The Jets placed McDonald (knee) on injured reserve Friday, Susanna Weir of the Jets' official site reports.
McDonald was unable to practice all week after suffering a knee injury in the Jets' Week 16 loss to the Saints. The 26-year-old's move to IR ensures he is done for the season, likely giving Braiden McGregor more reps in McDonald's place. The third-year pro accounted for 30 tackles (19 solo), including 8.0 sacks, in 15 games played.
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Jets' Will McDonald: Out for Sunday
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McDonald (knee) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Patriots.
The Iowa State product likely sustained a knee injury in the Jets' Week 16 loss to the Saints, and he's now in line to miss his first game of the season Sunday. McDonald has been a bright spot on New York's defensive line, tallying 30 total tackles, including 8.0 sacks, through 15 appearances this season. Expect Braiden McGregor and Micheal Clemons to fill in for McDonald on the Jets' defensive line in Week 17.
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Jets' Will McDonald: Dealing with knee injury
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McDonald (knee) did not practice Wednesday, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports.
McDonald may have injured his knee during the Jets' Week 16 loss to the Saints, when he played 65 snaps (57 on defense, eight on special teams) and finished with four tackles (three solo), including 1.0 sacks. He'll have two more chances to log a full practice and avoid an injury designation ahead of Sunday's AFC East tilt against the Patriots.
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Jets' Will McDonald: Full participant Thursday
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McDonald (ankle) was a full participant in practice Thursday.
McDonald's upgrade to full participation cleared him of injury designation, and he is set to suit up for Sunday's game against the Dolphins. McDonald has logged at least a 70 percent snap share in each of the last two games, though he may see extra playing time if fellow defensive lineman Jermaine Johnson (ankle) cannot suit up for Sunday's divisional clash.
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Jets' Will McDonald: Limited due to ankle issue
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McDonald (ankle) was a limited participant in practice Wednesday.
McDonald logged his usual defensive snap share against Atlanta on Sunday, but he appears to have also picked up an ankle injury. It bears monitoring his practice status the remainder of the week, but at this point there's no indication he's dealing with a major issue. McDonald has 7.0 sacks on the season, though 4.0 of those came in one game (versus Cleveland in Week 10).
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Jets' Will McDonald: Good to go vs. Baltimore
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McDonald (quadriceps) is active for Sunday's game against the Ravens.
The third-year defensive lineman will continue to play through a nagging quadriceps injury that limited his practice participation during Week 12 prep. McDonald has accumulated 21 tackles (12 solo), including 7.0 sacks, through 10 regular-season games.
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Jets' Will McDonald: Questionable to face Baltimore
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McDonald (quadriceps) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Ravens.
The third-year defensive end missed Wednesday's practice due to a nagging quad issue, but he ended the week with back-to-back limited sessions to draw the questionable tag for Week 12. If McDonald is not cleared to play, then Micheal Clemons, Braiden McGregor and rookie fifth-rounder Tyler Baron would be slated for more defensive snaps opposite starter Jermaine Johnson.
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Jets' Will McDonald: Back on injury report
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McDonald (quadriceps) did not practice Wednesday.
McDonald was on the injury report with the same issue ahead of the Jets' Week 11 loss to the Patriots. He still managed to suit up, which bodes well for his availability in Week 12 against the Ravens.
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Jets' Will McDonald: Cleared to play Thursday
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McDonald (quadriceps) is active for Thursday's game against the Patriots.
McDonald was able to practice Wednesday in a limited capacity, and he's been cleared to play in Thursday night's AFC East tilt after going through pregame warmups. The 2023 first-rounder is up to 7.0 sacks through nine regular-season games, 4.0 of which came during Sunday's loss to the Browns.
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Jets' Will McDonald: Listed questionable for TNF
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McDonald (quadriceps) is questionable for Thursday night's game against the Patriots.
McDonald got in a limited practice Wednesday, giving him a chance to suit up Thursday, as he's coming off a monster Week 10 performance against Cleveland in which he piled up 4.0 sacks.
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Jets' Will McDonald: Estimated as non-participant
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McDonald (quadriceps) was listed as a non-participant in the Jets' practice estimate Monday, Rich Cimini of ESPN reports.
McDonald popped up on the injury report Monday after having a dominant performance in the Week 10 win over the Browns, during which he recorded five total tackles (four solo), including 4.0 sacks. If this injury ends up being serious enough to hold the 26-year-old out of Thursday's matchup versus the Patriots, Micheal Clemons would likely get the start at defensive end in his place.
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Jets' Will McDonald: Monster performance in Week 10
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McDonald recorded five total tackles (four solo), including 4.0 sacks, in Sunday's 27-20 win over the Browns.
McDonald was an unstoppable force in Week 10, sacking quarterback Dillon Gabriel three times in the second quarter and another time in the fourth. The defensive end beat his previous high of 3.0 sacks that he notched in Week 2 of the 2024 campaign. On the season, McDonald has now produced 20 total tackles (12 solo), including 7.0 sacks, over nine games.
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Jets' Will McDonald: Being evaluated for concussion
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McDonald is being evaluated for a possible concussion and is questionable to return to Sunday's game against the Broncos.
McDonald sustained a head injury during the first half of Sunday's game, and he is being evaluated by medical staff to determine whether he can return. Micheal Clemons and Braiden McGregor will see more snaps at defensive end for as long as McDonald is out of the game.
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Jets' Will McDonald: Absent from first injury report
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McDonald (knee) isn't included on Wednesday's injury report, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com report.
McDonald missed New York's final two preseason contests due to a knee issue, but he appears to now be clear of the issue. The third-year defensive end thus seems to be in line to suit up Week 1 versus the Steelers. McDonald will be tasked with spearheading the Jets' pass rush after leading the team with 10.5 sacks last year.
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Jets' Will McDonald: Logs one tackle in preseason win
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McDonald (back spasms) tallied one tackle during Saturday's 30-10 preseason win over the Packers.
McDonald had his practice level managed early August due to back spasms, but the injury never appeared to be severe enough to impact his game-time availability. The 2023 first-round pick is working to build off a breakout 2024 campaign in which he tallied 10.5 sacks and 11 tackles for loss. Meanwhile, the Jets activated Jermaine Johnson (Achilles) from the active/PUP list Sunday.
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Jets' Will McDonald: Breaks out in second season
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McDonald posted 28 total tackles (18 solo), including 10.5 sacks, three passes defended and two forced fumbles across 17 games in 2024.
The 2023 first-round pick from Iowa State made a tremendous leap in production from his rookie season to 2024, tying Jonathon Cooper, Dante Fowler and Travon Walker for the 12th-most sacks in the NFL. McDonald also ranked among the NFL's top 15 edge rushers in quarterback hits (12), pressures (61) and batted passes (three) this season. He's now entering the third season of his rookie contract and is expected to remain one of the premier edge rushers in the league, with aspirations of earning his first Pro Bowl or All-Pro honors in 2025.
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Jets' Will McDonald: Pair of sacks in loss
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McDonald registered 2.0 sacks in Sunday's 26-21 loss to the Seahawks.
McDonald was able to get to Geno Smith two times in the defeat, notching his third multi-sack performance of the year and first since Week 3. The 25-year-old has now produced 21 total tackles (16 solo), including 10.0 sacks, while also adding two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and a pass defensed over 12 games this season.
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Jets' Will McDonald: Fills stat sheet in loss
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McDonald finished with three tackles (three solo), including a tackle for a loss and 1.0 sacks, and a pass breakup in Sunday's 37-15 loss to the Steelers.
The defensive end also played on 65 percent of the defensive snaps. McDonald has 15 tackles (12 solo), including 8.0 sacks, two forced fumbles and a pass defensed in seven games this season. The 2023 first-round pick recorded just 14 tackles, including 3.0 sacks, in 15 games as a rookie.
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Jets' Will McDonald: Five sacks in last two games
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McDonald had 2.0 sacks among his three tackles (one solo) and four quarterback hits in Thursday's 24-3 win over the Patriots.
McDonald stayed hot after his 3.0-sack breakout in Week 2. With Jermaine Johnson (Achilles) done for the season, McDonald will be counted upon to play a key role on the edge for the Jets, even if Haason Reddick's ongoing contract dispute is resolved at some point.
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Jets' Will McDonald: Three sacks in win
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McDonald recorded four solo tackles and three sacks in Sunday's 24-17 win over the Titans.
McDonald lived in Tennessee's backfield, getting to quarterback Will Levis three times to match his combined sack total from the first 16 games of his career. Jermaine Johnson (Achilles) is feared to have suffered a torn Achilles in the victory, and with Haason Reddick holding out, McDonald will likely move into a starting role at defensive end beginning with the Jets' Thursday night game versus the Patriots in Week 3.
