The New York Jets were recently accused of tanking — trying to lose games on purpose to improve their draft positioning in 2026.
If those accusations are true, the Jets will likely be displeased with the latest update from their Week 18 opponent, the Buffalo Bills.
ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter posted on social media, “For a second straight day, Bills QB Josh Allen did not practice today due to his foot injury, and it is now setting up for him to rest during Buffalo’s regular-season finale against the Jets.”
The Week 18 Results Will Have a Massive Ripple Effect on Jets’ Draft Choice
If the 2026 NFL draft started today, the Jets would hold the No. 3 overall pick, per Tankathon.
However, if they lose in Week 18 and the New York Giants upset the Dallas Cowboys, the Jets would jump to the No. 2 overall pick in the first round.
The Jets were already eliminated from being in contention for the No. 1 overall pick.
If the Jets beat the Bills in Week 18, they could fall all the way to the No. 7 overall pick. This seemingly meaningless game on the surface is critically important to the Jets’ positioning in the first round of the 2026 NFL draft.
The potential absence of the reigning league MVP in Josh Allen would dramatically increase the Jets’ chances of winning.
Who Wants to Lose This Game More?
Buffalo can’t win the AFC East. Last week, they lost to the Philadelphia Eagles, and the New England Patriots beat the tar out of the Jets.
That combination of items led to an AFC East divisional crown for New England.
The only thing that is up in the air for Buffalo is which of the wild-card seeds they will end up with.
Bills analyst Anthony Prohaska of Cover 1 joined me on “The Manchild Show with Boy Green Digital” and said “anyone with a hangnail” won’t play in this game versus the Jets.
This will be the final game at The Ralph before the Bills move across the street next season to their new stadium.
For Buffalo, being as healthy as possible heading into the postseason appears to be more important than a potential win in Week 18 against a division rival.
Jets Injury List Is Long as Heck
Six players for the Jets did not practice on Thursday, January 1.
That group includes defensive end Micheal Clemons (ankle), running back Isaiah Davis (concussion), offensive lineman Xavier Newman (knee), cornerback Qwan’tez Stiggers (knee), rookie tight end Mason Taylor (neck), and veteran tight end Jelani Woods (hamstring).
The biggest injury on the report that was worth watching was running back Breece Hall. He missed practice on Wednesday with a knee issue. However, on Thursday, he was upgraded to a limited participant.
ESPN’s Rich Cimini posted on social media that it “bodes well” for him to return on Sunday.
Hall is the straw that stirs the drink on the Jets’ offense. If he were unavailable for this game, it would be hard to envision how the Jets would have any chance of pulling off a victory. What Hall’s injury status is on Friday will go a long way toward determining if he plays in Week 18.
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