Jets player earned extra $250K for Week 1 performance

In a Jets opener full of unwelcome surprises – most notably a four-time MVP quarterback going down with an Achilles injury – there were some bright spots. One of which was a pay day for Jordan Whitehead.

The safety had three interceptions in the stunning, 22-16 win over the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football. According to Field Yates of ESPN, Whitehead hit an incentive and already earned himself a $250,000 bonus.

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“He was outstanding,” Saleh said Monday. “He’s been outstanding. He was four dropped interceptions away from having an All-Pro year last year. He caught them all today and he’s going to catch a hell of a lot more. He’s got great instincts in the back end. He has great instincts in the box. His range is better this year, believe it or not. He’s an outstanding safety. An outstanding safety, and he has been.”

This is Whitehead’s second season with the Jets, having signed a two-year, $14.5 million contract with New York in the 2022 offseason. The 25-year-old recorded two interceptions last year.

“I’m just going to keep working every week,” Whitehead said after the win. “I like to manifest but something like this, you got to talk about it. You got to talk about during the week, believe that you’re going to do it. That’s where it comes form.”

The Buccaneers picked Whitehead in the 4th round of the 2018 NFL Draft, and he made 61 starts (including playoffs) in four seasons with Tampa Bay.

The Jets beat the Bills in overtime on a punt return by Xavier Gipson after quarterback Aaron Rodgers went down with an Achilles injury in the first quarter.

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Bridget Hyland may be reached at bhyland@njadvancemedia.com