Leander Wiegand Placed on Injured Reserve for the New York Jets

The New York Jets’ already thin special teams unit suffered a significant blow on Tuesday, as the team announced that reserve linebacker and special teams ace Leander Wiegand has been placed on Injured Reserve with a torn MCL in his right knee. The injury, sustained during the Jets’ 19-16 loss to the Cleveland Browns in Week 14, will sideline Wiegand for the remainder of the 2024 season—a critical loss for a Jets team fighting to stay in the AFC wild-card race. Wiegand, in his second NFL season, had emerged as a staple of the Jets’ special teams packages, leading the unit in tackles and playing a key role in kickoff and punt coverage. His placement on IR forces the Jets to scramble for depth both on special teams and at linebacker, where injuries have already depleted the roster. Leander Wiegand Placed on Injured Reserve for the New York Jets breaks down the details of Wiegand’s injury, his contributions to the team, the Jets’ roster adjustments, and the long-term impact of his absence.

Leander Wiegand Placed on Injured Reserve for the New York Jets first delves into the circumstances of Wiegand’s injury and its severity. The 25-year-old went down late in the third quarter of the Browns game while covering a punt, collapsing to the turf after making a tackle on Browns returner Demetric Felton. He was helped off the field by trainers and did not return, with initial tests suggesting a knee sprain. However, an MRI on Monday confirmed a torn MCL, a injury that typically requires 6-8 weeks of recovery—well beyond the Jets’ regular-season finale in Week 18. Jets head coach Robert Saleh addressed the injury during a Tuesday press conference, describing it as a “tough break” for both Wiegand and the team. “Leander is the kind of player every team needs—tough, reliable, and willing to do the dirty work on special teams,” Saleh said. “He’s been our most consistent coverage player all season, and losing him hurts. Our thoughts are with him during his recovery.” Wiegand, who signed with the Jets as an undrafted free agent in 2023, had worked his way into a key role after spending most of his rookie season on the practice squad, making his loss even more impactful for a team built on developing young talent.

To understand the full scope of the loss, Leander Wiegand Placed on Injured Reserve for the New York Jets highlights Wiegand’s contributions to the Jets’ special teams and defense. On special teams, Wiegand led the Jets with 18 tackles this season, including three tackles for loss and a forced fumble on a punt return in Week 10 against the Denver Broncos. He also served as the Jets’ “gunner” on punt coverage—a position responsible for sprinting downfield to disrupt returners—and ranked 5th in the NFL among special teams players in “coverage stops” (tackles that prevent a return of 10+ yards). Defensively, Wiegand provided valuable depth at linebacker, appearing in 25% of the Jets’ defensive snaps and recording 12 tackles and a pass deflection. His versatility was particularly valuable, as he could play both inside and outside linebacker, filling in for injured starters C.J. Mosley and Quincy Williams earlier in the season. “Leander wasn’t just a special teams player—he was a Swiss Army knife for us,” said Jets defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich. “When we had injuries at linebacker, he stepped in and played solid snaps. Losing that flexibility is a big hit. He’s the kind of guy who makes everyone around him better, even if he doesn’t get a lot of headlines.”

Leander Wiegand Placed on Injured Reserve for the New York Jets also details the Jets’ immediate roster moves to fill Wiegand’s spot. The team wasted little time, signing veteran linebacker Joe Schobert off the Arizona Cardinals’ practice squad to a one-year contract and promoting practice squad linebacker Marquel Lee to the active roster. Schobert, a 7-year NFL veteran, has experience with the Jets—he played 16 games for the team in 2022, recording 112 tackles and two interceptions—making him a familiar fit for Saleh’s system. Lee, an undrafted free agent out of Wake Forest, has spent the entire season on the Jets’ practice squad, focusing primarily on special teams drills. The Jets also announced that they will shift defensive back Ashtyn Davis into a larger special teams role, using his speed to replace Wiegand as a gunner on punt coverage. For the New York Jets, these moves are about more than just filling a roster spot—they’re about preserving the integrity of a special teams unit that has been a bright spot in an otherwise inconsistent season. “We can’t replace Leander outright, but we can put guys in positions to succeed,” Saleh said. “Joe knows our system, Marquel has worked hard all year, and Ashtyn has the speed to be a effective gunner. It’s a next-man-up mentality, and that’s what we’ll lean on.”

Another layer of Leander Wiegand Placed on Injured Reserve for the New York Jets is the impact on the Jets’ playoff hopes. Entering Week 15 with a 7-7 record, the Jets are currently on the outside looking in at the AFC wild-card spots, trailing the Pittsburgh Steelers and Indianapolis Colts by one game. Special teams have been critical to their success this season—they rank 8th in the NFL in “Special Teams DVOA” (a metric measuring efficiency) and have scored two touchdowns on returns. Wiegand’s absence could weaken that unit, especially in close games where field position and stop on special teams can be the difference between winning and losing. Jets punter Thomas Morstead, who worked closely with Wiegand on punt coverage, acknowledged the challenge but emphasized confidence in the replacements. “Leander was our best coverage guy, no doubt,” Morstead said. “But Joe [Schobert] has been in big games, and Marquel has been grinding in practice. We’ll adjust, but it’s going to take everyone stepping up. For the New York Jets, every play matters right now, and we can’t afford to let this injury derail our momentum.” The Jets’ next three games are against divisional rivals—the Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, and New England Patriots—all teams with dynamic return units, making Wiegand’s absence even more pronounced.

The final dimension of Leander Wiegand Placed on Injured Reserve for the New York Jets is the long-term outlook for Wiegand and the Jets’ linebacker room. For Wiegand, the injury is a setback but not a career-threatening one—MCL tears have a high recovery rate, and he is expected to be fully healthy by the start of 2025 training camp. The Jets have already expressed interest in re-signing him, with Saleh noting that Wiegand “fits our culture and our vision for the future.” For the New York Jets, Wiegand’s injury highlights the need for more depth at linebacker and special teams heading into the offseason. With Mosley set to become a free agent and Williams entering the final year of his contract, the Jets will likely target linebackers in the draft and free agency to avoid similar depth issues next season. “Injuries are part of the NFL, but they also expose areas where we need to get better,” said Jets general manager Joe Douglas. “Leander’s loss is a reminder that we need to build more depth at every position, especially ones as critical as linebacker and special teams. We’ll use this as a learning experience as we build this team for the long haul.” As the Jets prepare for their Week 15 matchup with the Bills, Wiegand’s absence will be felt—but the team’s response to this adversity could define their playoff fate and shape their approach to roster building in the months ahead.