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New York Jets Lineman Jowon Briggs Has His Finest Pro Game Against Green Bay Packers
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- New York Jets Lineman Jowon Briggs Has His Finest Pro Game Against Green Bay Packers
There was at least one New York Jet in their loss to Green Bay in Week 2 who didn't disappoint and played his heart out. On a day when most of his teammates delivered a game to forget, defensive tackle Jowon Briggs had his finest game as a pro.
Like many interior linemen, Briggs is often overlooked on a Jets team that spotlights sack machines Will McDonald IV and David Bailey, along with Cincinnati import Joseph Ossai and Green Bay ex-pat Kingsley Enagbare .
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But PFF has recognized his contribution in Week 2, giving him a grade of 86.7, the highest mark of any player in the game, which the Jets blew in overtime after holding a big lead in the fourth quarter.
In the Green Bay game, Briggs played 35 defensive snaps, delivering one sack, a forced fumble, two pressures, and two defensive stops. The defensive tackle helped push the pile with his 6-1, 313 pound presence, helping the Jets contain the high-powered Packers offense. The Jets held the Packers under 200 yards, the second consecutive week Gang Green has held a team under the Mendoza line.
Briggs has a relatively low profile, but his stats speak loudly. In 2025, he produced 38 combined tackles (19 solo and 19 assists), 4.0 sacks, 8 tackles for loss, and 1 forced fumble over 17 games for the Jets.
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The New York squad got him in the 2025 preseason from the Cleveland Browns , who took him in the seventh round in 2024. The Jets gave up a sixth-round pick in 2026 to get him.
In college, Briggs won several accolades. He started his collegiate career at Virginia, one of the few freshmen in that school's history to start a season opener. He was named an ESPN Midseason Freshman All-American during his debut year. After two seasons, he transferred to Cincinnati in 2021, returning to his home, and in three seasons with the Bearcats, Briggs produced 130 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, and eight sacks. That earned him first-team AAC honors,
But there were concerns coming out of college about Briggs. He was viewed as a pocket-collapsing bull-rusher with short arms, which would make it easier for offensive linemen to control him. His burst was considered sub-par, and scouts had a hard time projecting how he would fit into a defensive scheme with those limitations.
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It's safe to assume Briggs has out-performed his pro projections. Now it's time for the other teams to start game planning against his aggressive style in the middle of the Jets line, while also having to worry about David Bailey, et. al.
As the Jets season progresses, look for Briggs to become more prominent in the Jets defensive attack.
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Sep 21, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
