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Interception watch ended this month when Minkah Fitzpatrick picked off Chicago’s Tyson Bagent, ending the Jets’ NFL-record drought of 20 consecutive games — spanning 638 days and 643 opponent pass attempts.
It remains their only interception this season — tied for the league’s lowest total — but Aaron Glenn’s defense has made up for it with a league-best seven fumble recoveries through six games.
Last season, the Jets finished with just four fumble recoveries — only Washington finished with fewer — and this season’s 10 forced fumbles have also surpassed last year’s total (nine).
The Jets are tied for fourth in the league with a plus-four turnover margin after being a league-worst minus-19 last season.
“I think the players are doing a great job embracing it and understanding the impact it can have on a game,” defensive coordinator Brian Duker said Thursday. “I think they’re kind of feeding off each other now. One guy gets one, it’s almost a challenge to the other guy to get one too.”
Among the three fumbles the Jets forced (two recovered) in last week’s loss to the Patriots, none stood out more than Jamien Sherwood’s strip of DeMario Douglas, in which the linebacker traveled 77 yards (according to Next Gen Stats) after chasing the receiver down from 20 yards away.
“You see the effort, chasing the ball, the violence, attacking the football … that’s the mentality,” Jets linebacker Demario Davis said. “It’s part of the brand of football that we want to play. A big part of creating forced fumbles is guys just running to the football. Every play is an opportunity.”
Breece Hall took a big step toward returning Sunday against the Dolphins, practicing — as a limited participant — Thursday for the first time since injuring his quad in Week 3.
Wide receiver Adonai Mitchell (finger) was limited for the second straight day, along with offensive lineman Dylan Parham (knee), edge Will McDonald IV (toe) and defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat (elbow).
Offensive lineman Max Mitchell was added to the injury report with a concussion.
Omar Cooper Jr. was named the NFL Rookie of the Week after recording six catches for 103 yards and a touchdown against the Patriots in his first full game. He is the third Jet to win the award in the past four weeks, joining fellow first round-picks David Bailey and Kenyon Sadiq.