The New York Jets traded experienced defensive tackles Quinton Jefferson and Al Woods for free agents Javon Kinlaw and Leki Fotu last offseason.
The latter, however, will not make his regular season debut with the Jets until October. With New York beginning its Monday Night Football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Fotu is on the injured list and can return in four weeks.
“He’s been dealing with a hamstring strain,” head coach Robert Saleh said after the 53-man roster was named last week. “We’re confident for Week 2-3, but with it being that Thursday game, we think he would have been ready for Week 3, but without practice, we feel like we should just let it play out until Game 4.”
While Pro Bowl selections Quinnen Williams and Kinlaw are slated to be the Jets’ starting defensive tackles, Fotu was apparently slated to be a backup alongside Solomon Thomas. Fotu, 26, a 2020 fourth-round draft pick of the Arizona Cardinals, played over 280 defensive snaps in each of his first four NFL seasons.
With Fotu unavailable to the Jets in the meantime, undrafted rookie Leonard Taylor secured a spot on the 53-man roster as the fourth defensive tackle. Although defensive end Micheal Clemons has been used on the interior in the past, one might assume that Taylor will step into the DT4 role in Fotu’s absence.
Taylor, once a highly touted prospect out of Miami, made an impression throughout training camp. In three preseason games, the two-way defensive tackle recorded 2.5 sacks and three stops against the run.
Fotus’ only tryout was as a starter in the season opener against the Washington Commanders. He recorded 22 defensive snaps and one solo tackle.
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