Ruthless New York Jets bench Quincy Williams, brother of star they traded away as blistering rebuild continues

Jets linebacker Quincy Williams, the older brother of new Dallas Cowboys man Quinnen Williams, says he has lost his starting job on the New York defense.

His revelation came around 24 hours after younger brother Quinnen was sensationally traded by the Jets to the Cowboys, shortly after cornerback Sauce Gardner was moved on to the Indianapolis Colts. The Jets received three first round picks for the pair.

Williams, an All-Pro in 2023, told reporters at Jets practice on Wednesday: 'I came in on Monday and I was a 2 (backup), so I didn't really understand what was going on.

'My coaches told me I was underperforming, that I've been underperforming since training camp.

'I'm not thrilled about it, but it's one of those things where I'm not mad about it because they told me what I need to get better at.'

Williams, 29, admitted that he thought he could have been traded by the time Tuesday's deadline had passed. Instead, it was his brother who was on the move.

Quincy said of his brother's trade to Dallas: 'When we had our conversation, we talked about it being a new beginning.

'I'm happy for Sauce and Quinnen because they get new starts and stuff like that, and then also they get a change of perspective and stuff.'

When asked if he still wants to remain with the Jets beyond this season, Quincy Williams paused for a second.

'Yeah,' he said. 'I want to play football. I'm not gonna lie to you. I'm at the position right now where I want to play football.'

Quincy Williams is in his fifth season with the Jets after being claimed off waivers from Jacksonville in 2021. He quickly became a starter in New York and developed into one of the NFL's top playmakers at his position.

But under new coach Aaron Glenn and defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, Williams has apparently not played to expectations. 

He missed four games with a shoulder injury, but had seven combined tackles, a tackle for loss and two passes defensed in the Jets' 39-38 win at Cincinnati on Oct. 26.

Williams signed a three-year, $18 million contract extension with the Jets in 2023 and is playing out the final year of his deal.

He said he was on the phone with Quinnen on Tuesday and the two were discussing the Jets' trade of Gardner when more news broke.

'He said, "Hold on, y´all. I'm going to the Cowboys,"' Quincy recalled Quinnen saying. 'So it was one of those things where it was like, all right, take a little minute and hit me up later. And he was like, 'I'm (gonna) be on the flight tonight.'

'We had time to talk about cherished memories and stuff like that, but then it was also one of those conversations like, all right, we're going to a new scenery, new everything.'

The Jets, 1-7, host Cleveland Browns on Sunday before meeting New England Patriots next Thursday night,