There was no more deflating performance this season than Sunday’s 23-12 loss in Chicago. 

The Jets were held without a touchdown until the fourth quarter, finishing with seven first downs and 157 total yards. They committed 12 penalties and recorded just one sack. They had their lowest time of possession (17:15) in a game since 2005 and were on the wrong side of the NFL’s biggest play differential (minus-57) this century. 

But they also got a hint of how much different the defense could be. 

Minkah Fitzpatrick — who was limited to six snaps in his Jets debut in Week 1 before suffering a groin injury — returned after missing back-to-back games and made headlines by recording the team’s first interception since 2024, while also finishing with a career-high 16 tackles. The three-time All-Pro safety became the first safety in the league with at least 10 tackles and one pass defended in a half since 2019. 

“There are some things I could’ve done better in the game that would’ve put us in position to win the game,” Fitzpatrick said following Thursday’s practice. “Even though I made some plays, there’s still some plays I left out there. When you lose a game, the most important thing to do, whether you played well or not, is to look in the mirror at yourself, and figure how you could’ve played better, how you could improve your chances of winning.” 

Despite having just returned from injury, Fitzpatrick, 29, played each of the team’s 89 defensive plays. 

“It was a lot of plays, but I think [head coach Aaron Glenn] took care of us the last few days,” Fitzpatrick said. “He’s really been making sure we’re taking care of our bodies, making sure we’re recovering.” 

Fitzpatrick — who was acquired from the Dolphins in March, then signed to a three-year, $40 million contract — not only ended one of the most embarrassing droughts in franchise history but also removed the pressure attached to a unit that had gone 20 games without an interception. 

His impact has just begun. 

“Oh man, to have a caliber of player like Minkah Fitzpatrick on defense, it elevates the play of everybody,” linebacker Demario Davis said. “He’s a special talent, just in the way that he can roam the field. He can play deep in the post or play in the box. He can come down and play in the nickel slot. So when you have somebody that can give that type of versatility it helps. 

“He’s an on-field general, he’s a guy that’s making all those calls and those checks, he knows how to put guys in the right position. So when you have a guy like that it elevates the entire group. I’m certainly glad that we got him with us.”