Richardson thrives back at his natural DE position

Sheldon Richardson showed what he could do if he is playing in his natural position.

After playing outside and inside linebacker in recent weeks, as well as 4-3 defensive end, Richardson moved back inside in Sunday’s 24-16 win over the Ravens in the 3-4 defensive-end role he played in 2013-14. The results were impressive. Richardson had a team-high eight tackles, three for a loss, and a sack.

Richardson was happy to be lined up on the guard’s outside shoulder, known as the 3 Technique.

“I mean, yeah, y’all must have forgot. Made Pro Bowl that year I played 3 Technique, then moved to outside linebacker,” Richardson said. “I cause a lot more havoc when I’m close to the ball. The way this team is set up, potential-wise, I’ve got to play outside linebacker. I just picked up the slack.”

Richardson has been playing outside the past two seasons because the Jets are loaded on the defensive line with Richardson, Muhammad Wilkerson and Leonard Williams. They all play the same position, so to get them on the field together, Richardson has played outside. Last week, he even played inside linebacker against the Cardinals on a few plays.

Wilkerson missed Sunday’s game with an ankle injury, opening the door for Richardson to play his natural spot.

He has had a strong freshman campaign, but Sunday was rookie punter Lachlan Edwards worst day so far. He put the team in a first-quarter hole when he bungled the snap at the end of the Jets’ first possession, and it ended up going for a Ravens touchdown. And with a chance to pin Baltimore deep in the third quarter, he had a punt go just 17 yards.

On the muffed punt, the snap was where it was supposed to be and slipped through Edwards’ hands. He tried to track it down and got a hand on it at the Jets’ 7 but didn’t corral it.

Chris Moore recovered it in the end zone for a 7-0 Ravens lead. “It went through his hands,” Todd Bowles said. “There’s no excuses.”

Center Nick Mangold left the game in the first quarter with an ankle injury and did not return.