The New York Jets' first joint practice with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Tuesday started somewhat as expected. Competing in the heat against players who aren't on the same team, both sides got into a pair of fights in the drills.
But then, things quickly escalated into a scary scene when Jets' cornerback Qwan'tez Stiggers collapsed on the field. New York 's medical staff swiftly attended to the former 2024 fifth-round selection and transported him to a local hospital.
While the Jets didn't provide details on Stiggers' condition , the team did announce that he was released from the hospital and back home Tuesday night.
With Stiggers sidelined for the foreseeable future, New York's cornerback depth will have an opportunity to make their case for a roster spot with additional reps. One Jets corner whose preseason outlook could change following Stiggers' injury is Samuel Womack III.
Entering training camp, Womack was widely viewed as a player on the roster bubble , with New York's cornerback room already appearing to have an established group of six. With this, Womack faced an uphill battle to carve out a spot on the 53-man roster.
But with D'Angelo Ponds and Stiggers sidelined, Womack's preseason outlook could change dramatically. Now, the five-year veteran will have a chance to see more defensive reps in preseason play rather than trying to shine in bits and pieces.
This gives Womack a chance to build upon his strong play from the first two weeks of camp, with Jets OnSI's Nick Faria noting that Womack has played well so far.
The former 2022 fifth-round pick has seen limited opportunities on defense since entering the league, playing only 1,034 snaps over four seasons. He did, however, show some promise in 2024 with the Indianapolis Colts , where he carved out a consistent rotational role and received meaningful reps.
In 17 games (eight starts), Womack recorded 36 total tackles, nine pass deflections, and two interceptions. While Womack fared well against the run-recording four run stops, per Pro Football Focus -he stood out in coverage.
In 440 coverage snaps, Womack allowed just 27 receptions (44 targets) for 388 yards and four touchdowns, earning a 71.3 coverage grade, which ranked 30th among 117 qualifying cornerbacks, per PFF .
Womack's solid play in camp is particularly notable considering he joined the Jets' practice squad in December and appeared in only one game last season. Now, with Stiggers out, the Detroit native can turn his increased reps into a stronger case to make the roster.
While all the starters are expected to play Friday night, we shouldn't anticipate them playing more than a drive or two, with their playing time likely to remain limited throughout the rest of the preseason. This gives Womack a legitimate chance of positioning himself for a roster spot.
But a solid showing on the defensive side alone won't guarantee him a spot. Stiggers has been the Jets' special teams ace, and for Womack to improve his chances, he must capitalize on additional reps on special teams.
Womack has experience on special teams from his first two years with the San Francisco 49ers , where he recorded six tackles and posted special teams grades of 75 and 68.9, respectively, per PFF .
Of course, Womack isn't the only player looking to take advantage of Stiggers' absence. Tre Brown is also competing for a roster spot and has played well in camp, giving the Jets another option to consider.
For Womack, the time is now to showcase that he can be a meaningful contributor. But even if he does impress, it doesn't guarantee him a roster spot. However, a string of solid performances could make New York's roster decision much more difficult.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com/nfl/jets/onsi as One Jets CB's Preseason Could Change Following Qwan'tez Stiggers's Injury .
