At 5-9 overall, the Jets have little reason to fight over the next two weeks, but they still are, according to linebacker Brandon Copeland.

While the postseason isn't on the line, plenty of other important things are.

For one, jobs.

"Guys are still fighting for jobs, guys' livelihoods are at stake," Copeland said Monday. "What you put on film is going to determine whether you'll be here next year or not or be in the NFL next year or not."

Copeland admitted he'd much rather be fighting for a playoff berth, but after entering the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2013 and then losing a season in 2017 due to injury, that puts things into perspective. Copeland also hopes he can send that message to younger players in the Jets locker room, too.

"For a guy like me who has had the game taken away and has been told that I'm not good enough or has been injured, you relish every single opportunity," Copeland said. "You'll remember if somebody folded, if somebody wasn't playing as hard. That's going to determine how much you trust them next season."

Center Jonotthan Harrison took things a step further, saying that playing spoiler against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 16 isn't a goal at all. Like Copeland, the focus is on their own sideline.

"We try to approach every week we play like, this is the next game. Of course our goal is to win that game, we don't lean on the side of approaching a game with ulterior motives," Harrison said. "We focus on winning the game and exciting at a high level."

"There's always room for growth and always room to build. We're going to do everything in our power to finish this strong," Harrison added.

Popular in the Community