The New York Jets are beginning to see the fruits of their defensive restructuring as nose tackle T’Vondre Sweat and defensive end Joseph Ossai have returned to practice. Both players participated in their second training camp sessions after absences, with Sweat recovering from a hamstring injury and Ossai from an undisclosed issue.
Their return adds to an evolving defensive front that also includes offseason acquisitions Kingsley Enagbare and David Onyemata, alongside No. 2 overall pick David Bailey, Will McDonald IV, and Harrison Phillips. The significant changes aim to address a defense that ranked 29th against the run and 31st in sacks last season, while producing a league-worst four takeaways.
“You see all those boys flying around? It’s exciting,” Ossai said. “There’s a lot of dogs in that room for sure. … I’m not trying to say too much, but we got something.”
Sweat, who stands 366 pounds, was a highly regarded interior defensive lineman last season with the Titans, ranking fifth among 127 players at his position according to Pro Football Focus. He recorded 13 stops, 14 quarterback hurries, 34 tackles, and two sacks.
Acquired via trade in February, Sweat expressed contentment with his new team. “It is what it is. I’m in a happy place. That’s all I have to say about that,” Sweat stated. “I’m back out there now, and I’m feeling good. I’m ready to go. I feel like the potential of the group is gonna be great. We got great run stoppers. That’s what we preach, stopping the run. I feel like we got a great group of guys for that.”
Ossai, who spent his first five seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals, signed a three-year, $34.5 million contract with the Jets in March. He previously played with Sweat at the University of Texas.
Last season with the Bengals, Ossai appeared in 14 games, starting nine, and registered 43 tackles (nine for a loss), five sacks, two forced fumbles, and 12 quarterback hits. “After [missing practice] the last three weeks, it feels really good to be out there,” Ossai said. “It was frustrating because I do want to be out there, but it was needed … making sure I’m ready for the season.”
Defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn is managing the workload for both Sweat and Ossai, implementing “pitch” counts as they integrate back into full practice. “We have a management plan for those guys,” Glenn said. “They just got back. It wouldn’t be wise to just throw them out there and let them go.”
Despite the cautious approach, the enthusiasm within the unit is palpable. “The energy [Glenn] brings, the fire he brings, there’s no way you leave a room or a defensive meeting and you don’t want to run through a wall,” Ossai commented. “I can’t wait to run through a couple walls this year.”
