Jets' Will McDonald has chance to become more than a situational player this training camp

Will McDonald didn’t make much of an impact as a rookie on the Jets’ defense, but opportunity is knocking for him to play more if he just smashes down the door.

Edge rusher Haason Reddick is holding out for a new contract. That’s allowed McDonald to get additional reps with the starters. The Jets say the athletic McDonald has gotten stronger, but they want to see more violence from last year’s first-round pick.

“It's about proving to yourself and to the man in front of you — which is the tackle — that you can run through his face on a pass play,” Robert Saleh said. “When he can establish the fact that he can win with power, it's going to open up all his speed, all his athleticism and all his quickness.”

McDonald, the No. 15 pick last year, may be stronger, but he’s not bigger. He’s listed at 6-foot-4 and 236 pounds.

Saleh called McDonald “an elite” pass rusher. The Jets challenged McDonald to play the run better, though. Until he proves himself, he may just be a situational end, playing on passing downs.

The Jets use a rotation on the defensive line. McDonald is behind Reddick — when he reports — and Jermaine Johnson on the depth chart. Micheal Clemons is in the mix. Takk McKinley has flashed early in camp, too.

The Jets have to replace Bryce Huff’s and John Franklin-Myers’ snaps and productivity. If McDonald keeps showing improvement the Jets may unleash him more. They hope he can make a Year 2 jump similar to Johnson last season.

“We all have seen the athleticism that he has, just amazing burst, explosion, speed, his balance is uncanny,” defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich said. “The physicality, the strength, the size, that's something that we challenged in this offseason to get bigger and stronger and become a better run defender, a better every down player. He has absolutely stepped up to that challenge.”

Saleh said McDonald won some one-on-ones with the tackles during three padded practices this week. Regarding McDonald becoming an every-down player, Saleh said “it doesn’t apply to us” since the Jets shuttle guys in and out- and made an analogy involving NBA great Steph Curry.

“There’s no doubt (McDonald) can play three downs,” Saleh said. “Steph Curry can drive the lane, post-up with other guards, he can do all that too. But you want him to shoot his three-pointer. Just keep launching those threes.

“A guy like Will McDonald, he’s an elite pass rusher. Yes, he can do everything we want him to do, but for him to get to that next level of pass rush he’s got to show that he can run through people, he’s got to threaten people with power. It takes time for those guys to understand how to leverage their body in a pass rush. He’s trending in that direction.

"He can play all three downs, but we really want him to learn how to rush through people.”

McDonald played just 19 percent of the defensive snaps in 2023. He recorded 14 tackles and three sacks – 2 ½ came in the final five games. He trained much of the offseason at the Jets’ facility and is seeing it pay off.

“I feel like I've gotten stronger in the run game,” McDonald said. “Not being able to get knocked back, I'm just setting that edge so I can help my defense. I definitely feel like I've gotten stronger in every aspect, whether it’s pash rush, run defense and just doing what I need to do.”

“I definitely feel like this year I'm going to contribute a lot more,” McDonald said.

McDonald also focused on improving his pass-rush skills, and his get-off in particular. He said his eyes were everywhere instead of on the football last year.

“I wasn't really looking at the ball that much and my get off was kind of slow,” McDonald said. “But I definitely feel like I improved in that aspect, which is going to be a big part of what I do.”

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.