While most of the Jets have been preparing to face the Steelers since the schedule was released in May, Harrison Phillips had been expecting to play the Bears this week as a member of the Vikings.
Then, he got traded to the Jets on Aug. 20.
The defensive tackle has been getting a crash course in the Jets defense since then and should get the bulk of the reps Sunday next to Quinnen Williams.
“[It’s been] kind of a mix of like a baptism by fire but also relearning to ride a bike kind of a thing,” Phillips said. “It’s a lot of new. It’s a lot of new vocabulary and a lot of different schemes, but it’s very similar to the defense I ran when I was in Buffalo a handful of years ago so there’s some carry-over. It’s kind of like knocking the cobwebs off. I think what’s really cool is to see how cohesive we’re playing as a defense. I think that’s important this early on in the season.”
Defensive coordinator Steve Wilks said it does not seem like Phillips just arrived.
“To be quite honest, I see certain things on tape, and adjustments, things that we do based off certain looks, and he’s executing them like he’s been here. At that point in time, it was like a day or two,” Wilks said. “So, for him to be able to grasp the playbook like that, Coach [Cameron Davis] did a tremendous job in spending extra time with him. He’s a smart guy, a veteran guy.”
Wilks said Phillips gives the Jets a different dimension on the defensive line.
“He adds physicality and toughness,” Wilks said. “[He’s] a veteran that’s smart, that’s been around. To be able to have a guy like that to play alongside Quinnen, I think just really accents and complements the things that Quinnen is going to be able to do.”
The Jets elevated WR Tyler Johnson off the practice squad for Sunday’s game.
They also officially placed RG Alijah Vera-Tucker on injured reserve.
The Steelers and team captain Cam Heyward have agreed to a contract adjustment that will get the defensive tackle on the field for Sunday’s game.
The new contract adds more than $3 million in incentives, on top of his previous $14.75 million deal.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
