This may be the weekend the New York Jets unleash D’Angelo Ponds.
The cornerback out of Indiana, drafted in the second round (No. 50 overall) by the Jets, has been sidelined with a calf injury. It was believed he would debut in the Green Bay game last weekend, but he was a healthy scratch.
Now, with the Jets secondary facing a stern task against a top Detroit Lions receiving corps, it may be time for Ponds to show why he was so highly touted coming out of college.
“This is probably the best I’ve felt since [my injury],” the rookie second-round pick told The New York Post after practice Wednesday. “I just feel good, just ready for my opportunity. Whenever the opportunity comes, I’m ready to take advantage of it.”
Ponds was out with his calf injury from the first day of training camp until resuming practice on Sept. 8. Head coach Aaron Glenn attributed his delayed debut to making sure he had enough practice before throwing him into the breach.
The Jets secondary faces a stern test against the Lions. They have the tandem of Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams at wideout, not to mention the speedy Jahmyr Gibbs at running back. All of them are capable of big plays, and the Jets will again be missing the steadying hand of veteran safety Minkah Fitzpatrick.
Dane Belton and Andre Cisco managed to hold the fort against the Packers, but it was a rainy day. Cornerbacks Brandon Stephens, Azareye’h Thomas and Jarvis Brownlee played well, at least before Brownlee had an unnecessary roughness penalty called against him in overtime. That bad mark put the Packers in position for a chip shot field goal to end the game.
Now, Ponds hopes to join them in stopping some of the players he knows only through gaming.
“Those are guys that I played Madden with and things like that,” he said. “Those are guys I really looked up to. To go against them, it would be a good challenge. When my number is called, I’ll be ready for it. I’m a competitor at heart. So no matter what the situation is, I’m ready to go, no matter who I’m going against.”
One thing Ponds and the other Jets secondary players are hoping to do is pick off a pass from Detroit quarterback Jared Goff. The streak without a takeaway via the air extends through last season,
Ponds had five interceptions while at Indiana. He can put the cherry on his debut game if he manages to break the interception streak against Detroit.
