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New York Jets Linebacker Jamien Sherwood Struggling in All Aspects of the Game
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- New York Jets Linebacker Jamien Sherwood Struggling in All Aspects of the Game
When last spotted on a football field, linebacker Jamien Sherwood was part of a New York Jets defense that Detroit Lions back Jahmyr Gibbs was making look silly.
Gibbs does that to a lot of teams, but his 164 total yards against the Jets was particularly egregious. He got into space frequently, and a Gibbs in space is always dangerous. The Jets lost, 31-24, and Gibbs scored the winning touchdown as one of his three end zone trips in the game.
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While not bearing the entire fault for the loss, linebacker Sherwood has been struggling in coverage for the last two years. When you're in for 95% of the team's snaps, as Sherwood has been, that is a problem.
Teammates have quietly noticed. Sherwood signed a three-year, $45 million contract with $30 million guaranteed after a fine 2024 season. He was named a captain in 2025, but was not renewed in that role for 2026, as fellow linebacker Demario Davis took over the green dot role as the defensive alignment shot caller on the field.
Sherwood was a fifth-round selection by the New York Jets in the 2021 NFL Draft out of Auburn, where he was a combo safety/linebacker. He added weight and became a full-time linebacker for the Jets, as well as a vocal leader on defense. He had 158 tackles in 2024 to go with two sacks, then followed up with 154 tackles in 2025.
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Despite those gaudy stats, all was not well. In 2025, Sherwood earned a PFF (Pro Football Focus) 46.1 coverage grade, ranking 48th among 64 linebackers who played at least 500 snaps. PFF charged him with allowing 562 receiving yards. His overall grade was a more respectable 65.6, as he remained effective against the run and as a blitzer.
But this year hasn't been an improvement, according to PFF
Sherwood has a 2026 39.4 overall PFF grade through the Jets' first three games. That puts him 66th among 71 qualified linebackers. His run defense was 46.9 out of 71, pass rush was 49.0, and coverage was 46.9.
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Given that 60 is NFL average, his struggles are underlined.
PFF also charges him with three missed tackles and a 126.3 passer rating allowed, while crediting him with six pressures and no sacks over 165 defensive snaps.
How much longer can the Jets endure that track record? Fortunately for Sherwood, there's no real competition for him at his position. But the Jets are hoping he can step it up to at least league average, a level which will go a long way toward fortifying their defense.
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Oct 2, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
