Jets rookie Will McDonald IV blocks field-goal, returns TD, but Jets fall to Buccaneers 29-27

Jets rookie Will McDonald IV blocked a 43-yard field-goal attempt with 1:49 left in the fourth quarter, then sprinted 50 yards for a touchdown, lifting the Jets within two points of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. But Tampa Bay managed the final clock sequence, and former Jet Chase McLaughlin booted a 36-yard field goal after a late surge to seal a 29-27 victory at Raymond James Stadium.

With the two-minute warning approaching and the Buccaneers clinging to a 26-20 advantage, McLaughlin lined up for a 43-yard try that McDonald leapt to block, the ball deflecting loose as the Jets recovered and sprinted toward the end zone. McDonald’s return carried him from midfield to the edge of the Buccaneers’ logo and into the end zone, a dramatic moment that briefly put New York in position to steal the game. Earlier in the fourth, he came within inches of another block on a 55-yarder; a running-into-the-kicker penalty was declined, and the attempt stood but did not end the Jets' hopes.

This was the Jets’ first blocked field-goal return for a touchdown since Ray Mickens accomplished the feat in 1997 against the Raiders. The play showcased McDonald’s preparation and timing, and it was the kind of moment that could define a young player’s trajectory amid a challenging start to the season for a team that hasn’t made the playoffs since 2010.

The late drama came after a stretch where New York had trailed for most of the afternoon. The Jets entered the game 0-3, still seeking their first win and aiming to snap a long postseason drought. The result underscored how quickly a single special-teams sequence can alter the tone of a game, even when a team ultimately comes up short.

McDonald, whose performance drew immediate praise from teammates, said the moment felt almost legendary in its significance for him personally. “I feel like it was kind of a legendary play for me, probably the best play I’ve ever made in my NFL career,” he said, offering a measured reflection that acknowledged the team’s loss while recognizing the play’s impact on morale. “You know, at the end of the day I still helped out and I was still able to get my team in a good position to win. I feel like I could have done a little bit more in the game to get our team in a better position, but obviously we see the outcome.”

Breece Hall, who played with McDonald at Iowa State, wasn’t surprised by the moment. “A great play by a really great, ascending player. I was happy he made that play to put us in a position to win,” Hall told The Post. “I know he’s going to be sad we lost, but there’s not much more he probably could have done.”

Jets receiver Garrett Wilson echoed the sentiment, calling the block-and-return a “will play.” “That is a pure will play. When I say will, I mean, like, actual willpower, like I am going to make this play,” Wilson said, underscoring how a single moment can define a game and a rookie’s early impression in the league.

New York had been prepared for the possibility of block attempts, with the coaching staff working on different looks in practice. McDonald said his focus had been on reading the snap and timing his jump, something he has drilled since arriving in the league. “I felt like I was getting closer and closer on each one that I had,” he added, illustrating how a player’s effort in practice can translate to a high-leverage moment on the field.

The late sequence and the Jets’ 0-3 start have sparked full-season discussions around the franchise’s ceiling and development path. The win would have offered a meaningful spark, but the final field goal denied New York a breakthrough on the road. For McDonald, the moment may still be the seed of a rising career, even as the team absorbs the sting of losing a game it briefly led.

Despite the loss, the Jets will point to the play as evidence of the potential they believe in on defense and special teams, with McDonald’s teammates urging the team to build on the moment as they prepare for the next challenge. The next game looms as an opportunity to translate a dazzling highlight into a sustained winning mindset, with the franchise still seeking its first playoff berth in more than a decade.

Image cues aside, the afternoon serves as a reminder that the NFL is a league of inches and moments. A rookie’s heroic sprint can brighten a franchise’s day, while a single loss can quickly restore the harsh calculus of a season in which a win remains elusive.