New York Jets rookie edge rusher David Bailey has taken a step back from social media to focus on his development and performance on the field. Shortly after the start of the NFL season, Bailey, the No. 2 overall pick from Texas Tech, chose to delete his Instagram account, citing concerns about the amount of time he was spending scrolling through content. He has not opened an account on X, formerly Twitter.
“I felt like I was spending too much time on it,” Bailey said, explaining that the decision to take a break stemmed from a desire to devote more time to physical training, studying the playbook, and other productive activities. After his standout performance in Sunday’s game, where he recorded three sacks and was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week, Bailey indicated no plans to return to social media soon.
Meanwhile, the Jets are preparing for their AFC East opener against the New England Patriots with a partially depleted offense. Key offensive starters including wide receiver Adonai Mitchell, running back Breece Hall, and left guard Dylan Parham were ruled out Friday. However, rookie wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. and tight end Kenyon Sadiq are expected to return to the lineup. Sadiq, who missed practice earlier this week due to a concussion sustained against Cleveland, was fully cleared Friday. Cooper, sidelined since Week 1 with an ankle injury, is set to make his first appearance since his impressive 30-yard catch and run in the season opener.
With several key players sidelined, the Jets offense has struggled, scoring just 29 points in the last two games and ranking near the bottom of the league in passing yards, total offense, and points scored. The Jets will look to ease the pressure on star wide receiver Garrett Wilson, who faces a challenging matchup against Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez.
The Patriots have gained momentum after a slow start to the season, with quarterback Drake Maye throwing seven touchdown passes over the past two weeks as New England scored 74 points in back-to-back victories. Their defense also ranks fourth in the league in points allowed, conceding just 18.8 points per game.
Jets head coach Aaron Glenn emphasized the importance of establishing the running game to control possession and take some pressure off the passing game facing a strong defensive opponent. Backup running back Braelon Allen, who rushed for a career-high 116 yards and the game-winning touchdown last week against the Browns, is expected to play a critical role. Allen’s effective running could help keep the Patriots' offense off the field.
New England is likely to focus on containing the Jets’ running attack, which could make the contributions of first-round rookies Cooper and Sadiq even more vital. The Jets invested two of their three first-round selections in these players to diversify their offense and reduce dependence on Wilson. Sadiq has produced one standout game so far with seven receptions for 105 yards, while Cooper showed early promise before his injury.
Offensive coordinator Frank Reich expressed optimism about Cooper’s return, highlighting his potential impact on the team’s offense moving forward. The Jets will hope the infusion of health and fresh weapons can reverse their offensive struggles and challenge a Patriots team riding high on recent success.