Jets linebacker Quincy Williams on upcoming season: 'I'm on a mission'

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Quincy Williams is attacking this season as if it were a ballcarrier in his sight line. The Jets linebacker is going full speed, bearing down and preparing to make a big impact.

“I’m on a mission,” he said after practice Thursday. “I’m on a mission for all of it.”

Williams is in the final year of his contract and wants to show the new regime that he deserves to be a part of the future.

“I want to be able to lead my team to a place that we haven’t been in a while,” he said. “And then also get myself to a point where I’m consistent in all phases [as a leader].”

Williams, 28, has been one of the Jets’ best and most productive defensive players since they claimed him off waivers from Jacksonville in 2021. He has four straight years of at least 106 tackles and was first-team All-Pro in 2023.

Now he may have to prove himself all over again to new coach Aaron Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey.

Williams, who is making $8.45 million this season, went to his new coaches and asked them what they want from him as a player and a leader. He also asked the strength and conditioning staff for advice on how to get his body ready to accomplish his mission.

He took what they said, added it to his list of goals and returned hungry and driven to prove his worth.

“[It’s] just having that mindset, like, how can I make this team better?” Williams said. “And then this new era of the New York Jets, how can I still be a part of this New York Jets team and take it to another level?”

Williams is among several Jets up for new deals. The others include Jermaine Johnson, Alijah Vera-Tucker and Breece Hall. Glenn has said he wants to keep good players in a Jets uniform and has backed up those words.

The Jets signed Garrett Wilson and Sauce Gardner to contract extensions and gave middle linebacker Jamien Sherwood, their leading tackler last season, a three-year, $45 million contract before he hit free agency.

Williams called Sherwood and himself “the best linebacker tandem in the league.” The Jets believe in the two of them and their abilities to excel in this system, which will require them to blitz at times and drop back into coverage at times.

“Where this game is going right now, everybody’s spreading you out,” defensive coordinator Steve Wilks said. “It’s a track meet out there. So you need speed out in space. That’s what we have. We have linebackers that can run, which I love.”

Wilks has been impressed with Sherwood’s level of focus and said he’s “the glue” of the defense. Wilks mentioned Williams’ physicality, speed and versatility.

“I like everything about Quincy,” Wilks said. “He gives us ability to be able to play out in space, match up on tight ends and running backs, so very versatile.”

Williams believes he and Sherwood complement each other well and wants them to be recognized as “the most feared linebackers. Ain’t no telling who’s going to cover, who’s going to be sent on the blitz. We’re going to be the same person, move as one.”

Keeping the two linebackers together beyond this season might become a priority for the Jets, especially if Williams accomplishes his mission.

Fields’ off day

Justin Fields had an up-and-down day running the offense. He completed 5 of 11 passes with two touchdowns during 11-on-11 competition. He also overthrew his receiver several times, was picked off once and should have been intercepted two more times.

Wilson's routes

Offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand said Wilson has a little “sauce” to his routes at times. Engstrand wants Wilson “to keep that under control” sometimes because he needs to run more precise routes in this offense.

Engstrand said they tell Wilson it’s not a race between him and the defensive back but the quarterback and the defensive line.

“He has to play fast so that [Fields] can beat the rush to get the ball out,” Engstrand said. “If he’s messing around too much or any of the other receivers are messing around too much, we’re going to have a problem. We can’t. We’ve just got to go.”

Two-minute drill

Quinnen Williams tweaked his left calf in individual drills and left practice to get evaluated. He did not return . . . Nick Folk connected on all six of his field-goal attempts in his first practice with the Jets since 2016. Rookie Harrison Mevis was 4-for-6 . . . Braelon Allen (knee soreness) missed his second straight practice.

By Al Iannazzone

al.iannazzone@newsday.comAl_Iannazzone

Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.