![New York Jets defensive end Will McDonald IV (9) runs on the field before an NFL football matchup at EverBank Stadium, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Jacksonville, Fla. The Jaguars defeated the Jets 48-20. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]](/cdn-cgi/image/onerror=redirect,width=640,height=640,format=webp/https://storage.googleapis.com/uploads.mongoosehq.com/url/media/86858938/24cb267487701306a3e498677e15587269940eb192957d4d3a865130608bf68e)
Overview
- McDonald goes to injured reserve with a knee injury after 15 games and 14 starts, finishing with eight sacks, 30 tackles and 19 quarterback hits.
- He leads New York in sacks and tackles for loss this year following a 10.5-sack breakout in 2024.
- The Jets also placed rookie linebacker Kiko Mauigoa (shoulder) and defensive lineman Jay Tufele (ankle) on injured reserve.
- With McDonald out, Micheal Clemons and Braiden McGregor are set to handle more snaps at defensive end alongside Jermaine Johnson for the final two games.
- At 3-12 with defensive rankings near the bottom in sacks and yards allowed, the team turns toward offseason evaluation as it weighs McDonald’s role and value.