DE · New York Jets · week 7 vs Miami Dolphins · Sun Oct 25 · 1:00 PM ET
Will McDonald IV
ROLE a starter
CLASS 2023 · R1 P15
EXP 3 seasons
AGE 25-28
DEPTH RDE2
99%PLAYEXPECTED
As of week 7, Will McDonald IV was a DE for NYJ, age 27.2, 3 seasons of experience, drafted in round 1. In 2026 through week 6 he was listed at depth rank 2 on his club's depth chart; he had played 6 games on 46% of snaps; his line was 2.4 tackles a game, 0.4 sacks a game and 0 passes defended a game. Before 2026 he played 47 games (postseason included) over 3 seasons. His injury history held 10 episodes (ankle 3, knee 2, shoulder 2), 1 of them reaching OUT, 4 a repeat of an earlier site; the last was a calf injury in 2026 week 5.
The full read
How our call moved in week 7
100500
76%76%76%77%77%77%77%77%97%99%99%99%99%99%99%
Wed 4:50 PM ETSun 12:05 PM ET
our call, P(plays)
76% LIKELY → 99% EXPECTED
Every call we wrote for him in week 7, earliest first, as written.
In short
Will McDonald IV is a starter at right defensive end for NYJ — 71% of the snaps in his best week of 7. He has a toe injury. In week 7 he practised limited, then practised in full. His team has not listed him on the final report. We say he plays — 99%, in a band that plays 96% of the time. We have said PLAY since 92 hours before kickoff.
The reader concurs · grade B
Head coach Aaron Glenn, a club voice speaking inside this practice week, named McDonald as limited with the toe but said he 'expects them to play Sunday' — a statement about this exact game (P2). The club's own Thursday report keeps him a limited participant rather than a DNP, and separates the genuinely doubtful men (Ossai, Mauigoa) into a non-practicing group (P1), with Glenn calling those two 'week-to-week' while listing McDonald merely as limited (P3). Nothing in the prose contradicts the PLAY call, and the dossier's Friday Full practice fits the improving trajectory; the remaining gap is the Friday game-status designation, which no passage covers. It would need to know: Friday 23 Oct official Jets injury report: McDonald's final game-status designation (Out/Doubtful/Questionable/none) for Sun 25 Oct vs Miami; Any Aaron Glenn or club remark on Fri 23 or Sat 24 Oct specifically updating the toe; Sunday 25 Oct Jets inactives list
What the read cites
What was reported
Source
1
“Edge Will McDonald IV (toe) and defensive tackle T'Vondre Sweat (elbow) were limited, but Glenn expects them to play Sunday.”
New York Post · 2026-10-22
2
“Mitchell (finger) remained a limited participant along with linebacker Will McDonald (toe)”
Pro Football Talk · 2026-10-22
3
“edge Joseph Ossai (ankle) and LB Kiko Mauigoa (thigh) are "week-to-week" while DT T'Vondre Sweat and edge Will McDonald IV would be limited participants”
New York Jets · 2026-10-21
15versions in week 7
9average, every player
29most for one player
How the call moved
EXPECTED since Sat Oct 24 · 12:11 AM ET · 37 h before kickoff. Biggest move: 77% → 97%, Thu Oct 22 · 7:02 PM ET to Sat Oct 24 · 12:11 AM ET, with no club report in between.
Our call · week 7
NOT EXPECTEDUNLIKELYCOIN FLIPLIKELYEXPECTED
99% · EXPECTED
we expect him to play — this band plays 96% of the time (96–97%), measured out of fold. We stand behind this one.
Practice in week 7
Fri
Thu
Wed
FPdated Sun Oct 25
LPdated Sun Oct 25
LPdated Sun Oct 25
Shape of the week: improving. Only days the publisher dated are shown; a day we could not date is left out until the nightly sweep stamps it. The shape is a fact, not a forecast.
Head start
Our call
Kickoff
Stats, with ranges — dot = his average, bar = his game range
Tackles / game2.4 range 1.0–5.0
wk 1–6 · 5 games
Sacks / game0.4 range 0.0–1.0
wk 1–6 · 5 games
Passes defended / game0.0 range 0.0–0.0
wk 1–6 · 5 games
Snap share45.1% range 34–71
wk 1–7 · 7 games
Snaps by week — his larger of the offence and defence share
50%wk 1
42%wk 2
34%wk 3
71%wk 4
43%wk 5
34%wk 6
42%wk 7
Missed while on the injury report
Season
Weeks on the report
Missed while listed
2026
3
0
Only the weeks he was on the injury report with a recorded result — not every game of his career.
Medical history
When
Injury
Weeks on a report
Worst status
2026 · wk 7
toe
1
—
2026 · wk 5
calf
1
Questionable
2026 · wk 2
ankle
1
Questionable
2025 · wk 17
knee
1
Out
2025 · wk 14
ankle
1
—
2025 · wk 11
quad
2
Questionable
2024 · wk 7
shoulder
3
—
2023 · wk 15
knee
1
Questionable
2023 · wk 13
shoulder
1
—
2023 · wk 10
ankle
2
Questionable
2023 · wk 8
back
1
Questionable
Every injury episode on file for him, as the record holds it.
Injury history by season · 11 episodes · 15 weeks on a report · same site more than once: ankle ×3
2023
knee · 1wshoulder · 1wankle · 2wback · 1w
2024
shoulder · 3w
2025
knee · 1wankle · 1wquad · 2w
2026
toe · 1wcalf · 1wankle · 1w
Weeks 1–18
ruled out
questionable
listed, and played
Each bar is one episode: the week it began and how many weeks he was on a report, coloured by the worst status.
Our past calls vs what happened
Wk 5PLAY 73% ✓ rightafter his team's announcement; played
Wk 7PLAY 76% ✓ rightafter his team's announcement; played
Season on him: 2 of 2 graded calls of ours right. Graded by the record: right or a miss against whether he played. A week we did not call, or his club's own word, is not graded.
The rest of his team's report in week 7
Player
Pos
Practice
Whose word
Call
Chance he plays
Band
Demario Davis
LB
FULL
ours
PLAY
99%
EXPECTED
Harrison Phillips
DT
FULL
ours
PLAY
99%
EXPECTED
Jack Heflin
DT
UNK
team's word
—
Kene Nwangwu
RB
FULL
team's word
Questionable
Joseph Ossai
DE
DNP
team's word
Out
Dylan Parham
G
LTD
team's word
Questionable
Marcelino McCrary-Ball
LB
UNK
team's word
—
Max Mitchell
T
DNP
team's word
Out
Breece Hall
RB
LTD
team's word
Questionable
Jarvis Brownlee Jr.
DB
UNK
team's word
—
T'Vondre Sweat
DT
FULL
ours
PLAY
99%
EXPECTED
Adonai Mitchell
WR
FULL
ours
PLAY
94%
EXPECTED
Francisco Mauigoa
LB
DNP
team's word
Out
Tyler Baron
DE
UNK
team's word
—
Anez Cooper
G
UNK
team's word
—
VJ Payne
SAF
UNK
team's word
—
The model reads the room: who else is out shifts what his own designation is worth.
The evidence behind his earlier calls
The evidence behind the call made Wed Oct 21 · 4:50 PM ET
We have not read the news for this player this week.
The evidence behind the call made Wed Oct 21 · 5:00 PM ET
We have not read the news for this player this week.
The evidence behind the call made Wed Oct 21 · 5:05 PM ET
We have not read the news for this player this week.
The evidence behind the call made Thu Oct 22 · 2:10 AM ET
We have not read the news for this player this week.
The evidence behind the call made Thu Oct 22 · 7:02 AM ET
We have not read the news for this player this week.
The evidence behind the call made Thu Oct 22 · 12:05 PM ET
What was reported
Source
“Edge Will McDonald IV (toe) and defensive tackle T'Vondre Sweat (elbow) were limited, but Glenn expects them to play Sunday.”
New York Post · Thu Oct 22
“edge Joseph Ossai (ankle) and LB Kiko Mauigoa (thigh) are "week-to-week" while DT T'Vondre Sweat and edge Will McDonald IV would be limited participants in Wednesday's workout”
New York Jets · Wed Oct 21
The evidence behind the call made Thu Oct 22 · 5:05 PM ET
What was reported
Source
“Edge Will McDonald IV (toe) and defensive tackle T'Vondre Sweat (elbow) were limited, but Glenn expects them to play Sunday.”
New York Post · Thu Oct 22
“edge Joseph Ossai (ankle) and LB Kiko Mauigoa (thigh) are "week-to-week" while DT T'Vondre Sweat and edge Will McDonald IV would be limited participants in Wednesday's workout”
New York Jets · Wed Oct 21
The evidence behind the call made Thu Oct 22 · 7:02 PM ET
What was reported
Source
“Edge Will McDonald IV (toe) and defensive tackle T'Vondre Sweat (elbow) were limited, but Glenn expects them to play Sunday.”
New York Post · Thu Oct 22
“edge Joseph Ossai (ankle) and LB Kiko Mauigoa (thigh) are "week-to-week" while DT T'Vondre Sweat and edge Will McDonald IV would be limited participants in Wednesday's workout”
New York Jets · Wed Oct 21
The evidence behind the call made Sat Oct 24 · 12:11 AM ET
What was reported
Source
“Edge Will McDonald IV (toe) and defensive tackle T'Vondre Sweat (elbow) were limited, but Glenn expects them to play Sunday.”
New York Post · Thu Oct 22
“edge Joseph Ossai (ankle) and LB Kiko Mauigoa (thigh) are "week-to-week" while DT T'Vondre Sweat and edge Will McDonald IV would be limited participants in Wednesday's workout”
New York Jets · Wed Oct 21
The evidence behind the call made Sat Oct 24 · 2:10 AM ET
What was reported
Source
“Edge Will McDonald IV (toe) and defensive tackle T'Vondre Sweat (elbow) were limited, but Glenn expects them to play Sunday.”
New York Post · Thu Oct 22
“edge Joseph Ossai (ankle) and LB Kiko Mauigoa (thigh) are "week-to-week" while DT T'Vondre Sweat and edge Will McDonald IV would be limited participants in Wednesday's workout”
New York Jets · Wed Oct 21
The evidence behind the call made Sat Oct 24 · 7:02 AM ET
What was reported
Source
“Edge Will McDonald IV (toe) and defensive tackle T'Vondre Sweat (elbow) were limited, but Glenn expects them to play Sunday.”
New York Post · Thu Oct 22
“edge Joseph Ossai (ankle) and LB Kiko Mauigoa (thigh) are "week-to-week" while DT T'Vondre Sweat and edge Will McDonald IV would be limited participants in Wednesday's workout”
New York Jets · Wed Oct 21
The evidence behind the call made Sat Oct 24 · 12:02 PM ET
What was reported
Source
“Edge Will McDonald IV (toe) and defensive tackle T'Vondre Sweat (elbow) were limited, but Glenn expects them to play Sunday.”
New York Post · Thu Oct 22
“edge Joseph Ossai (ankle) and LB Kiko Mauigoa (thigh) are "week-to-week" while DT T'Vondre Sweat and edge Will McDonald IV would be limited participants”
New York Jets · Wed Oct 21
Matched on part of his name only (a teammate or someone with the same surname can share it)
What was reported
Source
“Mitchell (finger) remained a limited participant along with linebacker Will McDonald (toe)”
Pro Football Talk · Thu Oct 22
The evidence behind the call made Sat Oct 24 · 5:02 PM ET
What was reported
Source
“Edge Will McDonald IV (toe) and defensive tackle T'Vondre Sweat (elbow) were limited, but Glenn expects them to play Sunday.”
New York Post · Thu Oct 22
“edge Joseph Ossai (ankle) and LB Kiko Mauigoa (thigh) are "week-to-week" while DT T'Vondre Sweat and edge Will McDonald IV would be limited participants”
New York Jets · Wed Oct 21
Matched on part of his name only (a teammate or someone with the same surname can share it)
What was reported
Source
“Mitchell (finger) remained a limited participant along with linebacker Will McDonald (toe)”
Pro Football Talk · Thu Oct 22
The evidence behind the call made Sun Oct 25 · 7:05 AM ET
What was reported
Source
“Edge Will McDonald IV (toe) and defensive tackle T'Vondre Sweat (elbow) were limited, but Glenn expects them to play Sunday.”
New York Post · Thu Oct 22
“edge Joseph Ossai (ankle) and LB Kiko Mauigoa (thigh) are "week-to-week" while DT T'Vondre Sweat and edge Will McDonald IV would be limited participants”
New York Jets · Wed Oct 21
Matched on part of his name only (a teammate or someone with the same surname can share it)
What was reported
Source
“Mitchell (finger) remained a limited participant along with linebacker Will McDonald (toe)”
Pro Football Talk · Thu Oct 22
The evidence behind the call made Sun Oct 25 · 12:05 PM ET
What was reported
Source
“Edge Will McDonald IV (toe) and defensive tackle T'Vondre Sweat (elbow) were limited, but Glenn expects them to play Sunday.”
New York Post · Thu Oct 22
“edge Joseph Ossai (ankle) and LB Kiko Mauigoa (thigh) are "week-to-week" while DT T'Vondre Sweat and edge Will McDonald IV would be limited participants”
New York Jets · Wed Oct 21
Matched on part of his name only (a teammate or someone with the same surname can share it)
What was reported
Source
“Mitchell (finger) remained a limited participant along with linebacker Will McDonald (toe)”
Pro Football Talk · Thu Oct 22
The data behind this page — the timeline in words, every call and week on record, about him, and what this page does not show
Profile — as of week 7
Role
DE2 · 46% snaps
Season
2026 · 6 games through wk 6
Per game
2.4 tackles · 0.4 sacks · 0 passes defended
Career
3 seasons · 47 games before 2026
Injuries
10 episodes · last: calf, 2026 wk 5
Bio
age 27.2 · 3 seasons' experience · drafted round 1
Where the profile comes from
Built from: honors.db; nflverse injuries_2026.csv; medical.db; nflverse players.csv; profile.db; nflverse roster_2026.csv; nflverse roster_weekly_2026.csv; nflverse snap_counts_2026.csv; nflverse stats_player_week_2026.csv. Every number in it is one those sources hold.
a starter at right defensive end — 71% of the snaps in his best week of 7
Listed on the depth chart
second at right defensive end
Snaps played
45% a week on average over 7 weeks, 71% at his highest, 41% on special teams
Build
6 ft 4 in · 245 lb
College
Iowa State
Drafted
2023, round 1 pick 15, by NYJ
Age
25-28 at the season's start
Experience
3 seasons
When this call was made, and when the world knew
WrittenWe first said PLAY.
PublicOur call became public, at kickoff.
KickoffKickoff.
How our call moved, earliest first
When
Lead
Call
Chance he plays
Band
On what
Wed Oct 21 · 4:50 PM ET
92 h
PLAY
76%
LIKELY
after his team's announcement
Wed Oct 21 · 5:00 PM ET
92 h
PLAY
76%
LIKELY
after his team's announcement
Wed Oct 21 · 5:05 PM ET
92 h
PLAY
76%
LIKELY
after his team's announcement
Thu Oct 22 · 2:10 AM ET
83 h
PLAY
77%
LIKELY
after his team's announcement
Thu Oct 22 · 7:02 AM ET
78 h
PLAY
77%
LIKELY
after his team's announcement
Thu Oct 22 · 12:05 PM ET
73 h
PLAY
77%
LIKELY
after his team's announcement
Thu Oct 22 · 5:05 PM ET
68 h
PLAY
77%
LIKELY
after his team's announcement
Thu Oct 22 · 7:02 PM ET
66 h
PLAY
77%
LIKELY
after his team's announcement
Sat Oct 24 · 12:11 AM ET
37 h
PLAY
97%
EXPECTED
before his team said anything
Sat Oct 24 · 2:10 AM ET
35 h
PLAY
99%
EXPECTED
before his team said anything
Sat Oct 24 · 7:02 AM ET
30 h
PLAY
99%
EXPECTED
before his team said anything
Sat Oct 24 · 12:02 PM ET
25 h
PLAY
99%
EXPECTED
before his team said anything
Sat Oct 24 · 5:02 PM ET
20 h
PLAY
99%
EXPECTED
before his team said anything
Sun Oct 25 · 7:05 AM ET
6 h
PLAY
99%
EXPECTED
before his team said anything
Sun Oct 25 · 12:05 PM ET
1 h
PLAY
99%
EXPECTED
before his team said anything
15 calls in week 7, and the call never flipped between PLAY and SIT. Each lead time is the one that call actually had when it was written — never recounted from now. A call that changes is the record working: new evidence arrived and we said so, in public, before the game.
His record this season
Wk
Practice
Chance he plays
Call
Source
Played
5
LTD
73%
PLAY
after his team's announcement
yes
7
UNK
76%
PLAY
after his team's announcement
yes
A blank in Played is a week not yet settled — never a no.