Acquired by the New York Jets at the end of August, defensive tackle Harrison Phillips did not have as much time to learn and gel into Steve Wilks’ defensive playbook, compared to his teammates on the interior of the line.
This proved evident to the defensive tackle on Sunday.
Speaking to the media on Monday, Phillips expressed that he was not pleased with his performance during the Jets’ season-opening 34-32 loss, stating that he hopes it was his “worst game of the year”.
“I hope that was my worst game of the year,” Phillips said. “I think I only had two padded practices with this organization before I went out there, and as I watched the film, I was getting really frustrated seeing the old habits creeping in. You can still play football that way, but that is not what this defense calls for. My hope is that that was the worst version of myself for this team.”
The Jets acquired Phillips from the Minnesota Vikings, plus a 2027 seventh-round pick, in exchange for a 2026 sixth-round pick and a 2027 sixth-round draft selection.
On Sunday, Phillips played 34 snaps, earning a 58.7 run-defense grade from Pro Football Focus. He finished with two tackles, but was also charged with a missed tackle and an abysmal 25.2 tackling grade from PFF.
Though it may not appear on the stat sheet, Phillips’ presence inside helps free up All-Pro Quinnen Williams, an evident dynamic on Sunday, as Williams recorded a sack and five stops.
Phillips’ ability to settle into Wilks’ scheme and complement Williams up front for a Jets defense searching for consistency could prove pivotal in shaping the unit’s identity as the season unfolds.