Jets rule out Minkah Fitzpatrick again before Lions test

The Jets will face Detroit without safety Minkah Fitzpatrick for a second straight game. Friday's NFL Week 3 injury designations list him out with a groin injury for Sunday's trip to Ford Field. Fitzpatrick did not participate in either of the first two practices, according to the Jets' Thursday report. His absence is a confirmed personnel loss, even though the defense has played well while adjusting around him.

The Jets also played without Fitzpatrick in their Week 2 overtime loss to Green Bay. Their own defensive review points to Andre Cisco and Dane Belton as the safeties who have filled the space. The team credited its defensive backs with allowing just four completions for 31 yards over the middle across the first two games. Those numbers come from a small early-season sample, but they help explain why the Jets have kept their coverage structure intact despite the veteran's injury.

Through two games, New York led the NFL in total defense at 197 yards allowed per game, according to that Jets review. It was second against the pass at 131.5 yards per game and second against the run at 65.5. The unit had allowed three touchdowns and held opponents to a 23.8 percent third-down conversion rate. That performance sets a high bar for the secondary against Detroit, rather than proving the matchup is already solved.

The Lions bring an offense that scored 31 points in each of its first two games. In a Friday team report, Detroit said it was tied for fourth in NFL scoring entering Week 3 while still seeking faster starts. That combination presents a different test for Cisco, Belton and the rest of the Jets' coverage group. How New York handles its safety rotations and communicates against Detroit's receivers will matter, particularly if the Lions can turn a quicker start into pressure on the visiting defense.

Friday's list also rules out Jets tight end Mason Taylor and linebacker Kiko Mauigoa. Taylor's thumb injury affects the offense and is a separate availability issue; Fitzpatrick's groin injury is the principal change in the defensive backfield. Detroit's own final report rules out offensive lineman Ben Bartch and safety Thomas Harper. The Jets and Lions will publish inactive lists before Sunday's game, but Fitzpatrick's out designation already settles his Week 3 status.