Star defensive tackle Quinnen Williams injured his calf at New York Jets training camp and will miss “about a week or two,” coach Aaron Glenn said after Friday’s practice. The timeline does not jeopardize Williams’ availability for Week 1 but will cause him to miss significant training camp as he prepares for what might be his fourth consecutive Pro Bowl season.

Glenn mentioned that holding Williams out is a “precautionary” measure due to recent incidences of Achilles tendon injuries across various sports, which has made teams more cautious about calf issues that may precede severe injuries. While Glenn did not explicitly confirm that the Jets are implementing this approach with their All-Pro lineman, safety is clearly a priority.

“We want to ensure that this player is ready to go, we are well aware of his capabilities,” said Glenn. “We want to hold him out, and we’ll monitor the situation.”

Williams is likely to miss the Jets’ preseason opener on August 9, although it remains uncertain how much the franchise intends to use its starters in the game against the Packers. If he misses the full two weeks, he could still partake in some preseason action and have adequate time to prepare for the season opener against the Steelers on September 7.

To date, Williams has only missed six games throughout his career, with his most recent absence occurring late in the 2022 season due to another calf strain. Glenn stated, “He has dealt with this injury before, so he understands the process needed to ensure proper healing. He will be just fine.”

Expectations for the Season

The upcoming seventh year comes with heightened expectations for Williams, who notched six sacks in 2024 and further contributed with two added tackles for loss, continuing to be a dominant force in the defensive line. This season marks the third year of a four-year, $96 million contract he signed following a breakout performance in 2022 where he recorded twelve sacks.