Jets Prepare to Face RB DeVon Achane; Isaiah Williams Part of Unit Doing Something Special

Susanna Weir

Ahead of the Jets Week 14 game against the Dolphins, HC Aaron Glenn said rookie QBBrady Cookwill serve as backup toTyrod TaylorasJustin Fieldsdeals with a knee injury sustained in practice this week.

"He's a very fiery guy," Glenn said of Cook. "The one thing that we do quite a bit in practice is we have a number of competition periods. And you see exactly how he goes about his business when his time comes up to be in that situation to compete. He's going to be a quarterback in this league. I do know that. I can't tell you when, but he will be a quarterback in this league."

Earlier this week, Glenn ruled out CBJarvis Brownlee Jr.(hip) and LBMarcelino McCrary-Ball(hamstring). CBQwan'tez Stiggers, who is in concussion protocol, should be clear for Sunday's game.

Can Jets' Defense Slow a Surging Dolphins' Offense?

The Jets defense will look to get back on track up front in Week 14.

After holding the Ravens and the Patriots to fewer than 100 yards on the ground, the unit surrendered 142 rushing yards to Atlanta's RB Bijan Robinson in Week 13.

"I hate that it happened," HC Aaron Glenn said. "I'm not overly concerned, because we've been pretty good at defending the run. Bijan's a great player, but that doesn't take away what we try to do each week as far as stopping the run first and forcing teams to be one dimensional. So, we've got to be better in that aspect."

This will be put to the test on Sunday as the Jets face a Dolphins' offense that has recorded at least 160 rushing yards in each of the last three games. RB De'Von Achane -- the AFC Offensive Player of the Month for November -- enters Week 14 with the third-most rushing yards in the league (1,034).

"Number one, it starts with a good edge set," LBQuincy Williamssaid of how to slow down Achane. "And then it starts with tracking, good angles and stuff. But the biggest thing is population and getting him down. And then also knowing what's going to happen -- anticipation and all 11 running to the ball."

DC Steve Wilks added: "They do a great job of putting him outside on third down. We've got to do a great job with our gap integrity and stopping the run."

'He Just Came to Work Every Day'

In what could be viewed as a redemption opportunity forIsaiah Williams, the second-year returner said Sunday's contest against the Dolphins is "just like any other game."

"That game had nothing to do with them, and everything to do with me," Williams said of Week 4 vs. Miami, a game in which he made two costly mistakes in the return game. "I've kind of taken this whole year since then to grow from that situation."

Williams has done that and then some. After being released by the Jets and then re-signed to the practice squad and eventually the active roster, he earned AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors for Week 8, scored his first return TD in Week 10 and then contributed a critical 83-yard return in a Week 13 win.

"He just came to work every day," special teams coordinator Chris Banjo said. "Obviously, [Week 4] wasn't the best outing for him -- personally, and the impact on the team. But when you just talk about resilience and grit, everything that AG [HC Aaron Glenn] talks about in the meetings, from start to finish, he embodies that."

Williams, who said he loves being part of a unit that takes so much pride in special teams, has found working with Banjo to be especially impactful in his journey.

"He understands things because he played," Williams said. "He understands being undrafted, having to work your way and just find ways to stick around and make yourself valuable."

Williams will look to make another statement Sunday as an integral member of one of the league's top special teams units.

"We're doing something special right now," he said. "I feel like every time we touch the field, we expect to change the game. The confidence we have in that room right now, the energy and just how we play for each other -- it's great when you can be a part of that."