The Jets made two of the league’s biggest moves on trade deadline day, trading away cornerback Sauce Gardner and defensive tackle Quinnen Williams. Both were former top-five draft selections by the Jets. Luckily for their offense, most of the trades involved New York’s defensive stars, leaving Breece Hall and Justin Fields as key threats.

The New York Jets’ defense is what really took a hit at the deadline, trading away their two biggest performers. Now, they have a few players who are expected to take on much larger roles in their Week 10 matchup against the Browns. The team still managed to hold onto key contributors like cornerback Brandon Stephens and linebacker Jamien Sherwood. This list looks much different what it would have a week ago.

Let’s take a look at the five current New York Jets players the Cleveland Browns must focus on in Week 10:

QB Justin Fields

The Jets have yet to officially name Fields as the starting QB against the Browns, but that is the current expectation after their Week 8 victory. This season, Fields has struggled with consistency in the Jets’ offense and has battled injuries throughout most of 2025. Despite not throwing an interception, Fields has collected only 1,089 yards and eight total touchdowns in 2025, averaging 155 passing yards and 1.1 touchdowns per game.

With no official word on Fields being the Jets’ starter this Sunday, we can only assume so after his solid performance in Week 8. His 244 passing yards and one touchdown led to New York’s first win of the season. If he is the team’s starter, the Browns’ defense will be sure to lock in on him and limit the Jets’ passing production.

LB Jamien Sherwood

One surprising defensive player—not just for the Jets but in the entire NFL, has been linebacker Jamien Sherwood. This season, he’s managed to collect a whopping 75 combined tackles in just eight games, ranking him ninth in the league among total tackle leaders. This also factors into his 80.1 run-defense PFF grade, which ranks 16th among 82 NFL linebackers. He will do all he can to stop Browns running back Quinshon Judkins this Sunday.

The Browns have struggled with the rushing attack after Quinshon Judkins’ hot start to 2025. Lately, the offense as a whole has stalled, no matter the defense they’re facing. Avoiding the few remaining defensive playmakers the Jets have left should not be an issue for rookies Judkins and quarterback Dillon Gabriel. Executing the task will be the bigger issue for the Browns in Week 10.

RB Breece Hall

One of the more talented players still remaining on the Jets is running back Breece Hall. The young halfback was hoping to be traded along with his fellow stars during the NFL trade deadline, but he will instead suit up against the Cleveland Browns for Week 10. Hall has had a solid season so far in 2025, currently ranking 12th in the NFL with 581 rushing yards and averaging 5.0 yards per carry. He’ll be one of the key players the Browns need to lock down this Sunday.

The Cleveland Browns’ defensive line has been up and down when it comes to stopping the run. Luckily, they’ll have something to prove after giving up 177 rushing yards to the New England Patriots in Week 9. Hall is expected to be the main weapon in the Jets’ offense this week, and shutting him down will be a pivotal success point for the Browns’ defense in Week 10.

CB Brandon Stephens

After multiple Jets trades, new Browns offensive play caller Tommy Rees must shift his focus to cornerback Brandon Stephens. He’s posted a solid 73.1 overall PFF grade this season, ranking 18th among 107 cornerbacks. He’s also produced a 72.5 coverage grade, which could be a major disruption to the Browns’ passing attack.

The Browns are set to once again start quarterback Dillon Gabriel in Week 10. Against a depleted New York Jets defense, his leash is expected to be short if quarterback Shedeur Sanders is healthy. Gabriel had shown solid decision-making by avoiding interceptions through his first three starts, but that game plan quickly fell apart in Week 9. He will have to sharpen those instincts if he wants to avoid making similar mistakes against Brandon Stephens and the Jets’ secondary.

WR Garrett Wilson

After battling injuries, the Jets’ top wide receiver is expected to face the Cleveland Browns this Sunday. That means the Browns’ secondary will be tasked with the tough job of stopping Garrett Wilson and the Jets’ passing attack. Even though Wilson has once again dealt with poor quarterback play, he’s still managed to collect 395 receiving yards and four touchdowns this season. Now, he faces a tough Browns defense that has been inconsistent against the pass.

The Browns’ secondary is in dire need of a bounce-back performance after all but losing the game against the New England Patriots. They allowed a 75% completion percentage and three touchdowns to opposing quarterback Drake Maye. We’ve also seen what this defense is capable of against a struggling offense like the Jets, as shown when they faced the Miami Dolphins and secured three interceptions. We’ll see if the team can have another strong outing and shut down Wilson in Week 10.