Javon Kinlaw, once a rising star out of South Carolina, found himself in the spotlight again, but for all the wrong reasons during the Monday night showdown between the New York Jets and the Buffalo Bills. His unfortunate series of mistakes late in the fourth quarter cost the Jets dearly, culminating in the Bills' go-ahead field goal. Let’s break down what happened, why it was a nightmare for Kinlaw, and how it reflects a larger pattern in his NFL career.
A Nightmare in Three Acts
Kinlaw's series of unfortunate events began with just over five minutes left in the game. The Jets were trying to hold off the Bills, clinging to a slim lead. That’s when Kinlaw made his first critical mistake. As Bills quarterback Josh Allen released the ball, Kinlaw continued to wrap him up and slam him into the ground. Now, anyone watching the replay might agree that Allen sold the roughing the passer penalty like a seasoned actor. But the fact remains, Kinlaw gave the officials an easy flag to throw by throwing Allen down after the ball had long left his hands.
With the penalty moving the Bills downfield, things only got worse for Kinlaw. Just a few plays later, he was flagged again—this time for a neutral zone infraction on a field goal attempt. A defensive lineman's job is to watch that ball, and stepping over the line before the snap is the kind of rookie mistake you’d expect in preseason, not in a crucial fourth-quarter moment. The Bills got a second shot at the kick, this time nailing it to go up 23-20.
A Heated Moment
As if two penalties weren't enough, Kinlaw wasn’t done. After the field goal, he had some choice words for the officials. Whatever he said, it was enough to earn him an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for "improper conversation with an official," as referee Adrian Hill described it. This penalty was enforced on the ensuing kickoff, effectively taking away any hope the Jets had of getting a decent return. While this flag may not have directly cost the Jets the game, it added to the sense that things were unraveling, both for Kinlaw and the team.
Six plays later, the Jets’ offense couldn’t save the day. They gave up a game-sealing interception, leaving the Bills to run out the clock and take home the win. It was a brutal loss for the Jets, but even more so for Kinlaw, whose trio of penalties became the talking point of the game.
A Familiar Sight for 49ers Fans
Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time Kinlaw has found himself at the center of a disappointing performance. For fans of the San Francisco 49ers, his struggles on Monday felt all too familiar. Kinlaw came into the league in 2020 with high expectations as the 14th overall pick, a player expected to bolster an already fearsome 49ers defensive line. But instead of becoming the next great interior lineman, he became known for injuries and inconsistency.
Over his time with the 49ers, Pro Football Focus regularly ranked Kinlaw near the bottom of the league at his position. Even in his most active season, where he played a career-high 17 games, he was still graded 112th out of 142 interior linemen who played a significant number of snaps. To put that into perspective, that's the kind of performance that makes fans and analysts alike wonder if a player is ever going to live up to their draft-day hype.
Career Lows and Public Spats
When Kinlaw wasn’t struggling on the field, he was making headlines off it. Perhaps his most infamous moment during his time in San Francisco came not from a big play or a standout performance, but from an offseason confrontation with a 49ers reporter, Grant Cohn. During a practice session, Kinlaw exchanged words with Cohn, later appearing on the reporter’s livestream to continue the verbal sparring. The incident turned even more bizarre when Cohn admitted he was hoping for a lawsuit to come out of it. It was a bizarre chapter in Kinlaw’s tenure with the 49ers, one that seemed to further cement his status as a player unable to avoid controversy.
A Fresh Start? Not Quite
When Kinlaw was traded to the New York Jets, it was supposed to be a fresh start. A new team, a new system, and a chance to turn the page on the disappointing early years of his career. And for a while, it looked like that might be happening. Early in his time with the Jets, there were flashes of the player he was supposed to be—a disruptive force on the defensive line, capable of making key plays when his team needed them most. But as the season has worn on, those flashes have become fewer and farther between.
Monday night’s debacle was the latest sign that Kinlaw is still struggling to find his place in the league. The penalties he racked up against the Bills weren’t just costly mistakes; they were a reminder of the inconsistencies that have plagued his career from the start.
Rodgers Defends, Rex Ryan Criticizes
Despite the poor showing, Kinlaw did have some defenders. Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who was sidelined with an injury, told reporters after the game that he didn’t think Kinlaw’s roughing the passer penalty was deserved. Rodgers argued that Allen had sold the hit, and that Kinlaw shouldn’t be faulted for playing tough defense.
However, not everyone agreed. Former Jets head coach Rex Ryan had a very different take when speaking on ESPN’s Manningcast. Ryan called Kinlaw’s roughing the passer penalty “a selfish play,” and applauded the Jets coaching staff for “putting his ass on the bench.” Ryan’s criticism was sharp and direct, and it echoed what many fans were likely thinking as they watched the game unfold. When you’re trying to win close games in the NFL, you can’t afford selfish mistakes like the ones Kinlaw made on Monday night.
The Bigger Picture
So, what does all this mean for Kinlaw and the Jets? For Kinlaw, it’s yet another setback in a career that has struggled to get off the ground. He’s still a relatively young player, and the talent that made him a first-round pick is still there. But the clock is ticking. If he can’t find a way to clean up his game and stop making costly mistakes, his time in the NFL may be shorter than anyone expected.
As for the Jets, they find themselves at a crossroads. At 2-4, they’re facing an uphill battle to make the playoffs, and Monday’s loss was a tough pill to swallow. While Kinlaw’s penalties were certainly a low point, the team has bigger problems to address. But if they want to turn things around, they’ll need players like Kinlaw to step up and avoid the kinds of mental errors that cost them so dearly against the Bills.
In a fitting, albeit unintentionally ironic moment, Jets owner Woody Johnson may have summed up the night best when he was asked about a potential trade for wide receiver Davante Adams. His response? “You know, thinking is overrated.” Based on Kinlaw’s performance Monday night, he might just agree.
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