Jets CB Jarvis Brownlee Jr. in line for first start after $30 million injury

When the New York Jets acquired cornerback Jarvis Brownlee Jr. from the Tennessee Titans on Sept. 23, fans and analysts were all relatively surprised.

Not only did New York sign Brandon Stephens to a three-year contract in free agency, but the organization also drafted AZ Thomas in the third round of the 2025 draft just a month later. The depth at cornerback, it seemed, was already set.

That was, of course, until the games actually started.

Brownlee is here to play

While Brownlee has been nursing an injury during his short stint with the Jets, as well as previously with the Titans, the Jets’ secondary has struggled to demonstrate competency through the first four games of the season.

New York is 28th in the league in points allowed, and just 14th in passing yards given up. Slot corner Michael Carter II is struggling, the safety play has been poor, and Stephens is still trying to get his footing with his new regime.

With Brownlee now fully healthy, it’s clear that he was never acquired as a depth piece for the group.

He was brought in to start.

Jets injury update

For most of Brownlee’s NFL career, he has played on the outside with the Titans. He recorded 75 tackles in his rookie season and picked off a pass as a fifth-round pick out of Louisville.

Things have changed since he landed with the Jets.

Stephens is coming off a strong performance in New York’s 27-21 loss to the Miami Dolphins on Monday night. Pro Football Focus graded the former Baltimore Ravens defensive back at an impressive 79.9—the second-best mark for a Jet defender in Week 4. With Sauce Gardner still commanding respect on his side of the field, it doesn’t seem like Brownlee will be replacing any of New York’s outside corners.

The nickel position, though, is an entirely different proposition.

Carter II is dealing with a concussion suffered during last week’s loss. On a short week, Jets head coach Aaron Glenn explained that the team would most likely be without him against the Dallas Cowboys.

That leaves Brownlee as the best available player for Carter’s role at this point.

Slot CB

“There’s a chance he can play nickel and outside corner for us,” Glenn said of the newcomer.

Brownlee’s physicality and hustle made him a fan favorite in his previous stop with the Titans. For a Jets team that has struggled with tackling, his addition could be a saving grace for the organization moving forward.

It also could mean the end for Carter.

The Jets could save $7 million in cap space after the 2025 season if they moved on from the slot corner. That number grows to $9 million if they wait until after June 1. While he was once considered a top slot corner in the game, Carter’s struggles to begin the 2025 season show his time in New York may be coming to an end.

The addition of Brownlee is only going to speed up that process—especially if he plays well against the Cowboys on Sunday.