Run Defense Improved with New Linemen for the New York Jets

The New York Jets’ run defense, which ranked near the bottom of the NFL through the first eight weeks of the season, has undergone a dramatic turnaround—thanks in large part to the midseason additions of defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson and rookie defensive end Javon Kinlaw. After allowing an average of 142.3 rushing yards per game in Weeks 1–8, the Jets have clamped down to 89.7 rushing yards per game in their last six outings, climbing from 28th to 11th in the league in run defense efficiency. Tomlinson, a 7-year veteran signed off the Minnesota Vikings’ practice squad, and Kinlaw, a third-round draft pick activated from injured reserve in Week 9, have anchored the interior line, plugging running lanes and forcing opposing backs into negative yards. Run Defense Improved with New Linemen for the New York Jets breaks down their individual contributions, the statistical shift in the Jets’ run defense, key game performances, and how this upgrade strengthens the team’s playoff aspirations.

Run Defense Improved with New Linemen for the New York Jets first highlights Dalvin Tomlinson’s impact as a run-stuffing anchor. At 6-foot-3 and 325 pounds, Tomlinson brings the size and strength to occupy multiple blockers, freeing up linebackers like C.J. Mosley and Quincy Williams to make tackles. In his six games with the Jets, Tomlinson has recorded 21 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, and 1 sack, but his greatest value lies in his ability to “two-gap” (control both sides of an offensive lineman) and prevent running backs from finding cutback lanes. Before Tomlinson’s arrival, the Jets allowed opposing backs to average 4.8 yards per carry; with him in the lineup, that number has dropped to 3.2 yards per carry. “Dalvin is a game-changer in the run game,” said Jets defensive line coach Aaron Whitecotton. “He’s the kind of player who can take on two blockers and still make a tackle, which takes so much pressure off our linebackers. He’s exactly what we needed to fix our run defense.” Tomlinson’s experience in the NFC North—where he faced physical running games like the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears—has also prepared him for the AFC East’s tough backs, including Buffalo’s James Cook and Miami’s Raheem Mostert.

Complementing Tomlinson’s interior presence, Run Defense Improved with New Linemen for the New York Jets details Javon Kinlaw’s emergence as a disruptive force on the edge. Kinlaw, a 6-foot-5, 285-pound rookie, missed the first eight weeks with a knee injury but has quickly become a staple of the Jets’ defensive line rotation. His athleticism—he clocked a 4.78-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine—allows him to shed blockers and pursue running backs from the edge, while his 34-inch arms help him wrap up backs before they can gain momentum. In his six games, Kinlaw has notched 18 tackles, 2 sacks, and 4 tackles for loss, including a critical stop in Week 12 against the Cleveland Browns that forced a fourth-down turnover. What makes Kinlaw particularly valuable is his versatility: he can line up as a 4-3 defensive end or shift inside to tackle in nickel packages, giving the Jets flexibility to adjust to different run schemes. “Javon’s speed off the edge is something we didn’t have earlier in the season,” Whitecotton said. “He can chase down backs from behind, and he’s got the strength to hold the edge against pulling guards. Having him healthy has been a huge boost.”

Run Defense Improved with New Linemen for the New York Jets also examines the statistical turnaround that coincides with Tomlinson and Kinlaw’s arrival. Before Week 9, the Jets allowed 10+ rushing first downs in seven of eight games and surrendered four rushing touchdowns. Since then, they’ve allowed 10+ rushing first downs only twice and have yet to give up a rushing touchdown—a streak of six games. ESPN’s “Run Stop Rate” metric (percentage of runs that fail to gain expected yards) tells an even clearer story: the Jets ranked 29th in this category (36.8%) in Weeks 1–8, but they’ve jumped to 9th (45.2%) in Weeks 9–14. This improvement has been critical in close games: in their Week 13 win over the Los Angeles Chargers, the Jets held Austin Ekeler to 52 rushing yards on 18 carries (2.9 yards per carry), forcing the Chargers to abandon the run and rely on Justin Herbert’s arm late in the game. For the New York Jets, this statistical shift isn’t just a coincidence—it’s direct evidence of how Tomlinson and Kinlaw have fixed a once-leaky run defense. “Numbers don’t lie,” said Jets head coach Robert Saleh. “Our run defense was hurting earlier in the season, but these two guys came in and changed everything. They’ve given us a foundation to build on.”

Another layer of Run Defense Improved with New Linemen for the New York Jets is the impact on the Jets’ overall defensive strategy. With Tomlinson and Kinlaw stopping the run, the Jets can now be more aggressive in their pass defense—using blitzes and man coverage without fear of opponents exploiting the run to counter. In Weeks 1–8, the Jets blitzed on just 28% of opponent dropbacks (26th in the NFL); since Week 9, that number has jumped to 35% (12th in the NFL), with defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich trusting the run defense to hold up if the blitz fails. This aggressiveness has paid off: the Jets have recorded 14 sacks in their last six games, up from 10 in the first eight weeks. For the New York Jets, this balance of strong run defense and aggressive pass rush has made them a more unpredictable opponent—something that will be critical in the playoff race. “When you can stop the run, everything else opens up,” Ulbrich said. “We can blitz more, we can play more man coverage, and we can force quarterbacks into bad decisions. Tomlinson and Kinlaw have given us that freedom.” The Jets’ secondary, too, has benefited: with fewer opponents running the ball, defensive backs like Sauce Gardner and D.J. Reed have been able to focus on covering receivers instead of supporting the run.

Run Defense Improved with New Linemen for the New York Jets also spotlights key game performances that showcased the new linemen’s impact. In Week 10 against the Indianapolis Colts, Tomlinson recorded five tackles and a tackle for loss, holding Jonathan Taylor to 68 rushing yards (his lowest total of the season at the time). Kinlaw, meanwhile, had a breakout game in Week 14 against the New England Patriots, sacking Mac Jones once and forcing Rhamondre Stevenson into a fumble that the Jets recovered. But perhaps their most impressive performance came in Week 11 against the Buffalo Bills, where they held James Cook to 49 rushing yards and prevented the Bills from converting a single third-down run. “That Bills game was a statement,” Tomlinson said. “We knew they had one of the best running backs in the league, and we wanted to show we could stop him. That win gave us a lot of confidence.” For the New York Jets, these performances have not only improved their record (they’re 4-2 since Week 9) but also changed how opponents view them—from a team that can be run on to a tough, physical defense that controls the line of scrimmage.

The final dimension of Run Defense Improved with New Linemen for the New York Jets is what this improvement means for the team’s playoff push. Entering Week 15 with an 8-7 record, the Jets are in the thick of the AFC wild-card race, and their improved run defense gives them a fighting chance against the league’s top rushing attacks—including the Miami Dolphins (12th in rushing yards) and Cleveland Browns (7th in rushing yards) in their remaining schedule. A strong run defense also helps in playoff football, where teams often rely on the run to control the clock and limit opponents’ possessions. For the New York Jets, Tomlinson and Kinlaw have not just fixed a problem—they’ve given the team a identity. “We’re a physical team now,” Saleh said. “We can stop the run, we can rush the passer, and we can compete with anyone. That’s the kind of team that wins in December and January.” As the Jets prepare for their final three games, all eyes will be on Tomlinson and Kinlaw to see if they can keep the run defense strong—and lead the team back to the playoffs for the first time since 2010. “We’re not done yet,” Kinlaw said. “We’ve come a long way, but we still have work to do. This run defense is just getting started.”