Jeanty says some Jets defenders don't want to tackle; Bowers back at full

Ashton Jeanty went looking for a fight on Wednesday and found one. Asked about the New York defense he faces Sunday, the rookie running back said there are "a couple guys out there that don't really want to tackle," and then declined to name them. The timing is the problem. Jeanty is averaging 3.1 yards a carry and has not cleared 60 rushing yards in six straight games, including 15 yards on eight carries against the Rams.

New York passed on the bait. Defensive coordinator Brian Duker said he had seen the comments and has "plenty of confidence in our guys," while allowing that the run defense "could be better." Linebacker Demario Davis filed it as "bulletin board material" and nothing more, and safety Minkah Fitzpatrick said he plays at full effort no matter what anyone says, per the Associated Press. The ledger is unkind to both sides of that argument: the Jets rank 24th against the run at 127.7 yards allowed per game, the Raiders 31st running it at 74.7 per game.

The useful news came off the practice field. The Thursday injury report upgraded Brock Bowers from limited to full participation with the calf, and did the same for edge rusher Kwity Paye and linebacker Quay Walker. Jack Bech and Carter Runyon, both recently off injured reserve, went full again.

The debit side: guard Jackson Powers-Johnson did not practice at all Thursday with a back injury, and edge rusher Patrick Johnson sat out both days with a stinger. Right guard was already unsettled. Powers-Johnson opened the season there before Caleb Rogers took the job, and Yahoo Sports reported that rookie Trey Zuhn III could become the third man to start at the spot. Klint Kubiak would not confirm it, saying only that "we're going to keep shaking it up until we find the right mix." Seven weeks in, that is a description of the problem, not a plan.

Maxx Crosby is still here with the Nov. 10 deadline closing. ESPN's Adam Schefter said on The Pat McAfee Show that the trade talk has "lost a little bit of steam" and that "I just don't think they're getting two 1s." Opinion, clearly labelled: a 3-4 team that sells its best player and still can't block anybody has solved nothing.

Friday's final report settles whether Powers-Johnson and Patrick Johnson travel. Kickoff is Sunday at MetLife Stadium against a 2-5 Jets team quarterbacked by Geno Smith, who was taking snaps in Las Vegas a year ago. Jeanty has made sure his carries get graded closely.