First-Round Rookie DE, Veteran WR Headline Jets' Inactives vs. Raiders

Originally posted on FanNation Jets Country
By Ralph Ventre | Last updated 11/12/23

The New York Jets won't have the services of rookie defensive end Will McDonald against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday Night Football.

McDonald, who did not practice on Friday after an ankle injury popped up, is one of seven Jets on the gameday inactives list. The 24-year-old rookie, who was drafted No. 15 overall, was in on his first career sack in the Week 9 setback to the Los Angeles Chargers.

"He’s dealing with an ankle. Again, he finished practice yesterday, but it popped up this morning," said Jets' head coach Robert Saleh on Friday in Florham Park.

Veteran edge rusher Carl Lawson, who was a healthy scratch the past two weeks, is up for Sunday night's game in place of McDonald.

As announced on Friday, veteran tackle Billy Turner and backup linebacker Chazz Surratt are unavailable for the November 12 primetime affair due to injury. Meanwhile, veteran receiver Randall Cobb, who is no longer listed with an AC joint issue, is a healthy scratch for the second week in a row.

"He was still dealing a little bit with the AC, but obviously he could have played," said Saleh of the decision to make Cobb inactive in Week 9. "When you get into that spot with [Justin] Hardee down and you’re dealing with some injuries on the defensive side of the ball, like Chazz Surratt, special teams comes into play. It really was more of a special teams decision."

Rookies Jason Brownlee, Israel Abanikanda and Jarrick Bernard-Converse round out the Jets' Week 10 inactives.

Outside of second-round rookie interior offensive lineman Joe Tippmann, Gang Green has not received substantial contributions from its 2023 draft class. McDonald has totaled only 75 defensive snaps through seven appearances. Abanikanda, a fifth-round running back, has yet to make his NFL debut.

The Jets and the Raiders will kick off in Las Vegas at 8:20 pm ET on NBC.