Qwan’tez Stiggers might never find an easier interception.
But that doesn’t mean it wasn’t particularly well timed.
Starting at cornerback for the Jets in place of the injured Sauce Gardner, Stiggers atoned Saturday for getting beat on an 80-yard reception when he tracked a second moon ball from Russell Wilson like he was the Giants receiver running the route (instead of Beaux Collins) and made an end zone interception.
“We were in man [coverage], and he did an inside release, and I just stayed on his top shoulder and looked back,” Stiggers told The Post after the game. “I heard the crowd say, ‘Oooh,’ when I caught the ball. I saw the ball out of my periphery and was like, ‘That’s mine.’ ”
Stiggers has a chance to stake a similar ownership claim to a spot on the depth chart as the top backup to Gardner (calf soreness) and training camp star Brandon Stephens on the outside.
Rookie third-round pick Azareye’h Thomas (shoulder) hasn’t played in either of the first two preseason games.
“It was a great opportunity for me to be able to display my talent and kind of solidify myself in this league and for this team,” Stiggers said. “I’m really excited for this year.”
Head coach Aaron Glenn talks frequently about responding the right way to adversity.
Stiggers, who played the whole first half and two series more than other starters, couldn’t stay with Collins on a slow-developing moon ball that would’ve gone for a touchdown if Andre Cisco hadn’t made a tackle at the 1-yard line.
“Something to fix, nothing major,” Stiggers said. “It’s part of the game. We’ve got the hardest job in the world. [Cornerbacks] do everything backwards and forwards. Plays are going to happen. We just have to eliminate the explosives.”
Stiggers was a 2024 fifth-round draft pick who didn’t play a snap of major college football before appearing in 14 games as a rookie.
His path to the NFL started in the Fan Controlled Football league and continued in the Canadian Football League, where he was named 2023 Most Outstanding Rookie.
Glenn praised Stiggers’ coverage ability, particularly his awareness of space in zone, earlier in training camp.
It showed on the interception when Collins turned to run a post route on a miscommunication with Wilson but Stiggers stayed with the floating ball.
“We’re going to make a lot of things happen this year,” Stiggers said.
The Jets have attempted 73 rushes in two preseason games.
Braelon Allen had seven for 34 yards against the Giants.
“Coach harps on showing our DNA and our brand of football,” Allen said. “Whenever the offense takes the field, our goal is to be physical and be violent.”
The injury concerns coming out of the game include DE Will McDonald IV (DNP, knee), Rashad Weaver (hamstring), WR Xavier Gipson (shoulder) and CB Bump Cooper (hamstring).
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
