Stephens has served as the team's top cornerback since the Sauce Gardner blockbuster trade. Jets (3-9) rookie cornerback Azareye'h Thomas and Stephens each played a sizable 68 snaps apiece as the boundary defenders. Isaiah Oliver (41) and Ja'Sir Taylor (30) split snaps as the nickel in Brownlee's absence.

The Jets are on a two-game losing streak, falling to the Baltimore Ravens, 23-10, last week and the New England Patriots, 27-14, in Week 10. The Jets' two wins this season are against the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals, wins that came back-to-back in Week 8 and after their bye in Week 10.