The Jets are hoping to see the return of an All-Pro on defense soon after designating linebacker Quincy Williams for his return from injured reserve. Williams has been out since New York’s Week 3 loss to the Buccaneers, and will now face a 21-day practice window, during which he can return to the active roster at any time. If he fails to be activated, though, he will revert to season-ending IR. 
That likely is not a possibility, or at least, not an expected one. When the 29-year-old suffered a shoulder injury, the Jets realized that he would likely be out for a good stretch of time, but they did not consider him to be in danger of missing the remainder of the season. New York has been quiet on Williams’ progress coming back from injury so far, but his return to practice this week should provide some insight. He was a full participant today, and if that continues throughout the week, the team may not hesitate to get him back in the game.
The Jets typically run with two linebackers on defense, though a third starter is designated for formations that don’t require an extra defensive back. During Williams’ All-Pro year in 2023, he played next to C.J. Mosley, while Jamien Sherwood served as the occasional third starter. Last year looked to be a similar lineup, until Mosley saw toe and neck injuries limit him to only four games. With Mosley out, Sherwood stepped up next to Williams, and former college quarterback Chazz Surratt played the third-man role.
This season, following Mosley’s retirement and Surratt’s departure in free agency, it looked to be Williams and Sherwood reprising their roles with third-year linebacker Marcelino McCrary-Ball as the occasional third. McCrary-Ball had almost exclusively been a special teamer in his first two seasons, only appearing on the field for three defensive snaps before this year, and he had already set new career highs through three weeks of play when it was announced that he would be joining Williams on IR with a hamstring injury.
With both Williams and McCrary-Ball out, New York has turned to Miami (FL) fifth-round rookie Kiko Mauigoa. The 22-year-old has gone from appearing in a couple snaps here or there in the first two weeks to playing nearly full game snap shares alongside Sherwood. Over the last two weeks, former practice squad linebacker Mykal Walker has stepped into the third role of this thin linebacking corps.
If Williams is able to come back soon, Mauigoa will likely shift into the third-man role, at least until McCrary-Ball can also return from IR and compete for the job. Once he’s back in the starting lineup, Williams will work to get back up to the level of play he’s displayed over the past two years for the Green & White.