The New York Jets have one of the NFL’s better defenses, at least on paper, and it is a big reason why some have been picking them to at least reach the AFC Championship Game.
They have a strong front seven, and their secondary is led by cornerback Sauce Gardner, who quickly became a star upon entering the league in 2022.
Gardner recently said his favorite wide receiver when he was in high school was Calvin Ridley, a player he and his team will face when they play the Tennessee Titans in Week 2.
“I used to play receiver in high school,” Gardner said, via Paul Andrew Esden Jr. of The Score 1260.
Who was #Jets CB Sauce Gardner’s favorite receiver in high school? #Titans star Calvin Ridley!
‘Calvin Ridley was my favorite receiver in high school. I used to play receiver in high school.’
On Sunday they will face off in Week 2.
🎥 @nyjets #JetUp #TitanUp @cghendy… pic.twitter.com/57CKphNDF6
— Paul Andrew Esden Jr (@BoyGreen25) September 12, 2024
Ridley was one of a few notable offseason additions for the Titans, who were 6-11 and missed the playoffs last season.
After being suspended for all of the 2022 season due to a violation of the NFL’s gambling policy, he caught 76 passes for 1,016 yards and eight touchdowns last season as a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Although Tennessee narrowly lost its season opener to the Chicago Bears, Ridley gives them a nice one-two punch at wide receiver alongside DeAndre Hopkins.
Gardner, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, led the league with 20 passes defended as a rookie, which helped him earn the Defensive Rookie of the Year award.
He has been named to the Pro Bowl and All-Pro First Team in each of his pro seasons.
A win for the Jets will be very important after a Week 1 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, as they can’t afford to get off to a slow start in a very competitive division and a very deep conference.
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