Sauce Gardner readies Jets for Week 2 clash with Josh Allen and Bills

New York Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner said Wednesday he is looking forward to the challenge of trying to slow down Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen when the teams meet Sunday at MetLife Stadium.

Allen produced a heroics-filled performance in Week 1, throwing for 394 yards and two touchdowns and adding two rushing scores in a 41-40 comeback win over the Baltimore Ravens. Gardner, a two-time Pro Bowl selection in his first three NFL seasons, said the Jets must tighten up in the passing game after a season-opening loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

"It's always a battle. Obviously, I don't really enjoy it," Gardner said when asked about facing Allen. "As a corner, you never really enjoy playing against, like, running quarterbacks or quarterbacks that are capable of using their legs and stuff like that. But I'm looking forward to it. He's a competitor. He's the guy, and we're very aware of that, for sure."

Gardner praised the Jets' front seven for its run defense in Pittsburgh but said the secondary must improve collectively. Former Jets starter Aaron Rodgers threw for 244 yards and four touchdowns in the 31-24 loss, exposing coverage lapses Gardner said the defense cannot repeat against Buffalo.

"We did pretty good in the run game, the front seven did their thing, but as a secondary, we gotta get better collectively," Gardner said. He added that when Allen scrambles, his priority is to maintain coverage responsibility rather than chase the quarterback. "That don't got anything to do with me. If I got my man, I got my man. Because I know he's capable of doing some crazy things. When he's scrambling, he can throw across his body and throw the ball 50-60 yards or further. So, we just gotta be disciplined in coverage and trust the front seven to do their thing, like they did last week."

The Jets made an early-season roster move at the returner position, releasing Xavier Gipson after a costly fumble in the opener and signing receiver and returner Isaiah Williams. Williams spent time with the Detroit Lions when Aaron Glenn, now the Jets' defensive coordinator, was on Detroit's staff.

"We will be bringing in some other guys. We already brought one guy in, Isaiah Williams, who I know," Glenn said. "He was with us in Detroit, I think '23 or '24, he was with us. … And then we're going to look at some guys that are in-house."

New York also listed injury and availability updates ahead of Week 2. Rookie tight end Mason Taylor is dealing with an ankle issue, returner Kene Nwangwu has a hamstring problem, and defensive tackle Jay Tufele was excused from practice for a personal matter. The Jets have the practice-squad option of rookie Jamaal Pritchett for expanded special-teams work.

Allen, the Bills' 6-foot-5 quarterback and the league's reigning MVP, will present a multifaceted threat that demands disciplined coverage and situational containment. The Jets, still searching for consistency after the opener, will emphasize limiting big plays downfield and keeping containment when Allen extends plays with his legs.

The matchup will be the first regular-season meeting between Gardner and Allen since Gardner became one of the NFL's premier shutdown corners. The Jets' defensive approach this week will be scrutinized as much for schematic adjustments as for individual coverage assignments, with Gardner's ability to stay disciplined expected to be a key factor in how well New York defends an offense that opened the season with a dramatic comeback.

Kickoff at MetLife Stadium will provide the Jets an early measurement of how their secondary and special teams respond to quick personnel and schematic challenges. Gardner's comments signaled a focus on assignment football and trust in the front seven as New York prepares for a game with potential playoff implications just a week into the regular season.