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New York Jets: How will Sheldon Richardson be used against the Washington Redskins?

By Nick Ziegler

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The New York Jets will be getting a huge boost to their defensive line on Sunday against the Washington Redskins with the return of Sheldon Richardson.

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Minutes after the Jets drafted Leonard Williams with the sixth overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, fans have been salivating to see the defensive line of Richardson, Williams, Muhammad Wilkerson, and Damon Harrison.

Due to some off-the-field issues, Richardson was suspended for the first four games of the season for violating the NFL’s substance-abuse policy.

"The quarter mark of the season means @Godforshort is back. https://t.co/Tcz0ojTv4j— New York Jets (@nyjets) October 13, 2015"

There is no denying the talent of Richardson when he is on the field, as he was the Defensive Rookie of the year in 2013, and followed that season up by totaling eight sacks last season on his way to the Pro Bowl. Richardson is arguably the Jets’ best defensive lineman on a line that is loaded with talent.

The Jets’ defense has done well without Richardson, but his return will have a huge impact on the defense. After a four-week layoff absence, that impact may have to wait a week or two though.

Todd Bowles has done a great job so far this season, and he has already planned out how he will be using Richardson against the Redskins.

“I’ll tell you Sunday night,” Bowles said with a smile to Darryl Slater of NJ.com.

Bowles further explained to Slater: “Depending on what [offensive] package they come out in, he may. There’re things in [the game plan] for him. I’m not going to say he is or isn’t [going to start]. If they come out in something else and he doesn’t [start], that makes me out to be a liar. But there are some packages for him that, if they start the game a certain way, he could start.”

Bowles later indicated that more than 20 snaps for Richardson would be a high number with the amount of time that he has missed.

We may not see the four defensive linemen on the field together, but what we will see is fresh defensive linemen rotating in and out of the game. Having four Pro-Bowl caliber lineman in a rotation is a scary thing for a coach to have in his arsenal on game day.

The Redskins don’t have an elite passing attack with Kirk Cousins, but in Week 7 the Jets will need all the pass-rush they can get. Week 6 will be important to get Richardson’s football legs underneath him because the Jets will need him to be in an elite form in Week 7 to defeat the Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.

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