TE Jeremy Ruckert: ‘We’re Building Something’
In the Week 8 win at Cincinnati, TE Jeremy Ruckert made a single catch … but it was a big one. Trailing by 38-24 facing a fourth-and-1 play from their own 49-yard line with 8:41 left in the fourth quarter, QB Justin Fields found Ruckert for 24 yards to the Bengals’ 27-yard line. On the next play, RB Breece Hall sped along the home sideline into the end zone for his second TD of the game.
And with Fields back as the starting QB, Ruckert said that the team responded to his “work ethic” and “his energy in the building.”
“I think the whole team did a great job of having his back,” Ruckert said. “And I don’t think there was ever a question of that. I think we got a tight locker room. A lot of people outside looking in say whatever they want, but inside this locker room, I think we got a great group that loves each other, loves to play for each other.
“And like everybody’s saying, we’re building something, and it’s exciting to be around these guys.”
With the NFL trade deadline on Tuesday at 4 p.m. Eastern, the Jets may or may not be active. The team has already made one move — obtaining WR John Metchie III and a 2027 sixth-round pick from the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for CB Michael Carter II and a 2027 seventh-round pick.
“Personally, I don’t really pay too much attention to it, obviously it’s the nature of the league, the nature of the business,” Ruckert, now in his fourth NFL season, said. “Just in order to have a successful organization, team, locker room, you can’t really worry about things you can’t control. The minute you start thinking about that, you start forgetting the main thing, and that’s becoming better every day.”
He added: “When you start thinking about what people are saying, or stuff like the trade deadline and where you might go, you’re not really worried about where your feet are right now.”