Jarvis Brownlee Jr. was so stunned when he was traded by the Titans to the Jets in late September, the hard-hitting second-year cornerback shed tears.
Now, he’s ready to make the opposition feel pain.
“I think I always play with a chip on my shoulder, but it just adds more to that, to where I’m going to go and play 10 times harder than I usually do just to show those guys what they missed out on,” Brownlee told The Post after practice on Friday. “But more importantly, to prove to my coaches, the Jets organization, that they were right for taking me.
“I’m just ready to go [all out] and get out there with the guys. I feel something cooking up here. I believe in the process, and believe what [coach Aaron Glenn] got going on here. So I’m ready to roll.”
The new Jets defensive back will likely make his Gang Green debut on Sunday against the Cowboys after practicing fully all week.
An ankle injury, which kept him sidelined Monday night, appears to have healed.
While Brownlee played on the outside for the Titans, he has spent time as the slot corner before.
His versatility is part of what appealed to the Jets.
He could see time there on Sunday, with starter Michael Carter II out due to a concussion.
“To me, it just adds to my game. I’m an aggressive player already,” he said. “Me being in the box, I think it just adds an extra linebacker in there. For me, if I am inside, I’m going to be fired up.”
“I didn’t get to play the nickel spot a lot last year. I played it a lot in college. Get to be out there again at nickel, I’m ready to give MetLife a show.”
Most importantly, the 5-foot-10, 194-pound Brownlee is known as an elite tackler, something the Jets could certainly use.
A fifth-round pick a year ago out of Louisville, he started 16 games for the Titans. Brownlee notched a 77.7 Pro Football Focus run defense grade in 2024, which was ranked in the top 10 of qualified cornerbacks; and he was third on the Titans with 75 tackles along with nine passes defensed and seven tackles for loss.
His 83.5 run defense grade was in the top five this season.
He also has the highest run-stop rate among qualified cornerbacks this year.
“I think it’s a mentality thing. I don’t think a lot of guys go into the game thinking how I think,” he said. “I just like to make my presence felt. If I have to do that with covering you, hitting you, no matter what it takes, I’m going to let you know I’m here. I take pride in the run and tackling.”
Simply put, he enjoys hitting people.
It was always what drew him to the sport, all the way back to his childhood. He grew up playing both running back and cornerback, but in high school he focused on defense.
“I think you have to be a little crazy to play football, especially to play defense,” the 24-year-old Brownlee said. “Defense, you have to hit. … They see a guy that’s 190 [pounds]. Yeah, I’m not that big, but I come with bad intentions, and I play hard, I play with extra effort.”
The trade was emotional for Brownlee.
He believed he had given the Titans everything he had, playing through a painful back injury in Week 1.
It came out of nowhere for him.
When his agent broke the news to him on his off-day, he took a walk and tears ran down his cheeks.
He’s put that behind him. Now, he’s ready to provide a boost for the winless Jets.
“I can help a lot,” he said. “There’s a reason I’m the No. 1 corner in stopping the run. I’m going to preach to those guys that we have to be consistent in just tackling.”
Brownlee later added: “With me, I’m going to bring that energy on the field, show these guys tackling is the key. I think the energy I bring guys will feed off me, just want to go hit somebody.”
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
