Minkah Fitzpatrick is the New York Jets missing link in their plan to take down the Chicago Bears. Fitzpatrick’s expected return Sunday gives the Jets a defender who can make a quarterback question what he is seeing.
The veteran Fitzpatrick was on the field for just six plays in the opening game against the Tennessee Titans. He pulled a groin muscle and was gone for the rest of that game and the Green Bay and Detroit matches.
He was brought over from the Miami Dolphins this spring for a seventh-round draft choice. He signed a three-year, $40 million deal to be the voice of experience in the Gang Green secondary.
Fitzpatrick practiced fully Thursday and said he expects to play in Chicago. In his absence, Jets’ Andre Cisco and Dane Belton have handled the safety duties, helping build a defense that ranks second in total yards allowed and third against the pass.
But Fitzpatrick’s return provides more possibilities for Gang Green to be even better. He can patrol the deep middle, move toward the line of scrimmage, or line up over an inside receiver. He was designated by Glenn as a key to the “big nickel,” a package that uses a safety as the extra defensive back.
In that alignment, Fitzpatrick, Belton and Cisco are on the field together in selected situations. The hope is that it confuses the Bears quarterback and takes away the first choice in passing downs. That moment of hesitation will allow edge David Bailey and the other rushers a better chance of wrecking the play.
Fitzpatrick also helps against tight ends Colston Loveland and Cole Kmet. He could cover an inside target, provide help behind a linebacker, or drop underneath a route the quarterback expects to be open. In the Detroit game, the Lions killed the Jets on short passes over the middle.
Of course, the one big hope for the Jets is ending their 20 consecutive games without an interception. Fitzpatrick has 21 career picks and led the league in 2022 with six while with Pittsburgh.
With Fitzpatrick protecting the deep routes, cornerbacks Azareye’h Thomas and Brandon Stephens can gamble more on short routes.
The biggest factor, though, will be Fitzpatrick’s ability to perform several functions. Chicago’s quarterback for Sunday will have to find him and then determine what the defense alignment will mean. That moment of hesitation may make all the difference for a hungry Jets defense.
