Jets Linebackers Embrace ‘Villain’ Roles

At 5-11, 230, Quincy Williams was pigeonholed as being too undersized to play linebacker in the NFL. But what he may lack in size, he makes in speed and tenacity. He was drafted by Jacksonville in the third round in 2019 (96 picks after his brother) and then plucked off the waiver wire by Jets GM Joe Douglas just as the 2021 regular season was about to start. He played in 16 games (13 starts) and finished second on the team in total tackles (103) to veteran middle linebacker C.J. Mosley. This season, the Jets added another veteran to the linebacking corps, Kwon Alexander. That enabled the Jets defense last week to at times play the trio at the same time as the defense held the Ravens’ rushing attack to 63 total yards, the fewest since QB Lamar Jackson became the team’s starter.

“We like villains, we want to be bad guys,” he said of the linebackers. “I already took the part of The Joker because I’m always laughing, I’m always smiling, I’m always joking around and I’m also the youngest experience wise. Then we have C.J., who is our leader of the villains, so we’re going to say he’s like either Doom or Thanos. Then we got Kwon, who could take a few of the villains, but I’d probably go with Venom.”

While Williams may be known for his jovial nature, he said that not a single player was pleased with the loss to Baltimore on opening day at MetLife Stadium. After the game, second-year running back Michael Carter said it might have felt like the Jets lost the Super Bowl, but that it’s only one of 17 games. Then in his press conference on Wednesday morning, Coach Robert Saleh said that “this is not the Same Old Jets,” adding “Once we prove we’re capable, it’s going to snowball into something huge.”

Williams picked up where his coach left off.

“So me and my guys had a conversation,” Williams said. “Fans, of course, from the outside looking in say ‘the same Jets, the same Jets,’ and I’m more like, hey, we got the pieces. Their mindset is like we lost the Super Bowl, but we look…