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Ponds (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Packers.
Ponds didn't play Week 1 due to a calf injury, but he'll be a healthy scratch for Week 2 after being cleared from the team's injury report. The rookie second-rounder's next chance to make his NFL regular-season debut is Week 3 against the Lions next Sunday. Jarvis Brownlee will continue to operate as the Jets' slot corner.
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Jets' D'Angelo Ponds: Logs full practice Thursday
Rotowire
Ponds (calf) was a full participant at practice Thursday.
Ponds started the new week of preparation with a limited practice Wednesday, but it now looks like there's little doubt he'll be available in Week 2. The rookie second-rounder might be eased into the Jets' defensive gameplan slowly to start his pro career.
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Jets' D'Angelo Ponds: Limited in Wednesday's practice
Rotowire
Ponds (calf) was listed as a limited participant in Wednesday's practice.
Ponds strung together three consecutive limited practices during Week 1 prep, but he was not cleared to make his NFL regular-season debut against the Titans this past Sunday. Ponds may remain sidelined for the Jets' Week 2 clash against the Packers this Sunday unless he's able to log a full practice over the next two days.
Ponds (calf) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Titans.
The second-round rookie was listed as doubtful after he suffered a strained calf on the very first day of training camp. While the Jets were hopeful he'd be ready for the start of the regular season, Ponds needs at least another week.
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Jets' D'Angelo Ponds: Doubtful for regular-season opener
Rotowire
Ponds (calf) is listed as doubtful for Sunday's game against Tennessee, Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic reports.
Toward the end of training camp, there was optimism that Ponds would make his NFL regular-season debut against Tennessee. The rookie second-rounder was a limited participant in all three practices this week, but the doubtful tag indicates that he's likely not quite ready to return from a calf injury that he sustained in late July. If Ponds is ruled out for Week 1, the Jets would lose a special-teams asset and depth in the secondary behind starting corners Brandon Stephens, Jarvis Brownlee and Nahshon Wright.
Head coach Aaron Glenn said Monday that Ponds (calf) is on track to play against the Titans in Week 1, Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic reports.
The rookie second-rounder missed all of training camp and did not play in any of the Jets' three preseason games due to a calf injury he sustained in late July. He is progressing in his recovery, and it appears Pond is trending toward making his NFL debut in Tennessee on Sunday, Sept. 13. The Indiana product will provide depth in the secondary behind Jarvis Brownlee, Brandon Stephens and Nahshon Wright (hip).
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Jets' D'Angelo Ponds: Eyeing return to practice
Rotowire
Ponds (calf) is nearing a return to the field according to head coach Aaron Glenn, Eric Allen of the Jets' official site reports.
Glenn indicated that Ponds is getting closer to a return and expects him to be available for New York's Week 1 matchup against Tennessee after straining his calf on July 29. The rookie defensive back is in line to see a significant role in New York's secondary after being selected in the second round back in April.
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Jets' D'Angelo Ponds: Not ready to come back yet
Rotowire
Ponds (calf) is not yet healthy enough to return to the practice field, Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic reports.
The rookie cornerback strained his calf in late July during a training camp practice, but Jets coach Aaron Glenn said then that the injury wasn't serious, per Rich Cimini of ESPN.com. Glenn told reporters Monday that Ponds should be back soon, per Rosenblatt. The second-round pick is expected to play a major role in New York's secondary.
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Jets' D'Angelo Ponds: Dealing with strained calf
Rotowire
Ponds sustained a strained calf in Wednesday's practice, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports.
Coach Aaron Glenn said it's not a serious injury for the rookie cornerback. Selected in the second round of April's 2026 NFL Draft, Ponds is fully expected to be a key contributor at cornerback in 2026.
The Jets selected Ponds in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft, 50th overall.
Ponds wasn't heavily recruited out of high school due to his 5-foot-8 size, and that might be an issue for him at the NFL level. However, he didn't let that lack of size get in the way of a successful three-year college career that culminated in a National College Championship victory in 2025 with Indiana. During that season, Ponds was selected to both the All-American Second-Team and All-Big Ten First-Team after logging 61 tackles, one forced fumble and 12 pass defenses (two interceptions) across 15 games. The Jets needed to address the outside cornerback position after trading Sauce Gardner (calf) to the Colts in November, and Ponds will compete for a starting job against the likes of Azareye'h Thomas (shoulder) and Qwan'tez Stiggers (knee).
