GLENDALE, Ariz. — Sauce Gardner has drawn criticism for his tackling this season. One play on Sunday is not going to help.
In the second quarter of the Jets’ 31-6 loss to the Cardinals, Gardner had a costly missed tackle. The Cardinals had a third-and-7 at their own 33, leading 14-6 at the time.
Kyler Murray hit tight end Trey McBride across the middle for what should have been a play short of the first down, but Gardner failed to bring down McBride, who ran for 17 yards and a first down.
The Cardinals scored eight plays later and took a 21-6 lead.
“I know I missed one today,” Gardner said. “I’ve got to make that tackle. It was good coverage. I’ve just got to make that tackle. As a team, I don’t know. I know we always practice it — D-line, [linebackers] secondary — we always practice it. It starts with me. I’ve got to be better. I’ve got to make the tackle.”
Poor tackling was contagious among the Jets. They missed 20 tackles in the game, according to Next Gen Stats. That is tied for the most by a team this season.
“It’s just one of many plays that we’ve got to get better at,” interim coach Jeff Ulbrich said of Gardner’s mistake. “It comes down to technique, base fundamentals, getting off blocks, the foundation of defensive football. It wasn’t even close to good enough today.”
The Jets lost left tackle Tyron Smith to a neck injury at halftime.
Ulbrich did not indicate how serious the injury is.
Rookie Olu Fashanu played the second half in Smith’s place. Smith, 33, has not played a full season since 2015.
There was a weird play in the second quarter before the two-minute warning. It appeared that the Cardinals either fumbled the snap or there was a false start or offsides penalty. Instead, the referees called nothing and called for a do-over of the play, saying it was first-and-10 again.
“They said they weren’t ready to officiate the play. So, it was a do-over,” Ulbrich said. “They didn’t know if it was offsides. They didn’t know if it was a false start. They were a little unsure, so it was just redo the play.”
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Has he ever seen that before.
“No, I have not.”
Jets LB Quincy Williams had a highlight sack of Murray in the second quarter. Williams came screaming off the edge unblocked and drilled Murray, knocking off the quarterback’s helmet.
Murray somehow stayed in the game and threw a touchdown pass three plays later.
“I was surprised, but I was hoping he did get up,” Williams said. “I ain’t trying to hurt nobody, but it’s more like a competition thing, you feel me. But when I turned around, he got up fast.”
CB Brandin Echols suffered a concussion in the second quarter. … QB Aaron Rodgers briefly went to the blue medical tent. He said the neurologist wanted him checked for a concussion. He returned to the game.
