As if containing Ja'Marr Chase wasn't tough enough, Jets will do so without Sauce Gardner

CINCINNATI — Sauce Gardner has to be hurting — and in more ways than one.

A concussion has knocked Gardner out of Sunday’s game against the Bengals in what would have been a homecoming for the former University of Cincinnati Bearcat. Gardner, the Jets’ All-Pro cornerback, also gets extra hyped when he has to try to lock down star receivers. There’s none bigger than Ja’Marr Chase right now.

Chase caught a career-high 16 passes in a win over Pittsburgh last week with former NFL Defensive Player of the Year Jalen Ramsey defending him most of the time. Limiting Chase, the NFL leader with 58 catches, would be a challenge if Gardner were playing. Now the Jets’ secondary, hurting without Gardner, really has its hands full.

“I have a lot of confidence in the guys that we have, let me say that first and foremost,” Jets defensive coordinator Steve Wilks said. “Are we more talented when Sauce is out there? Of course we are.”

Chase was targeted 23 times against Pittsburgh, also a career high. During his weekly news conference, he was asked how many catches he thinks he could have in a game.

After taking a second, he responded, “Twenty-six. I mean, I left a lot out there. I’ll be honest, I left a lot out there. I doubt I’m going to get 26, though. But probably 17, 18.”

It wouldn’t be shocking if Chase, whom Wilks called “a potential Hall of Famer,” hits that mark on Sunday. If so, the Jets probably will be 0-8 going into their bye.

The Jets are desperate for a victory, so much so that first-year coach Aaron Glenn chose to play the “competitive advantage” card and not announce whether Justin Fields or Tyrod Taylor would start at quarterback Sunday. He wanted the Bengals to prepare for both (Fields was named starter Saturday after Taylor was listed as out with a knee injury).

It’s hard to imagine Cincinnati coaches sweating over who the Jets’ starting quarterback would be . . . neither quarterback has played well.

The Jets have gone two games without scoring a touchdown, with Fields leading the offense for six quarters and Taylor the last two. Adding to the offense’s plight, star receiver Garrett Wilson will miss his second straight game with a knee injury.

The Bengals have offensive players who actually do keep defensive coaches up at night, trying to game-plan how to contain them. It’s not just Chase but also Tee Higgins, another talented receiver with whom the Jets will have to contend on Sunday.

It will be a big test for cornerback Brandon Stephens, improving rookie Azareye’h Thomas and physical Jarvis Brownlee, with safeties Andre Cisco and Malachi Moore providing help on the back end against the Bengals’ dynamic receivers.

“AZ and B. Stephens and all the other guys that we have in the fold, I think they’re going to be ready to accept the challenge,” Wilks said. “We know Chase and Higgins are outstanding players. But I have a total confidence in our guys that we can get it done.”

Chase and Higgins are always a dangerous duo, but they’ve been re-energized by the recent acquisition of Joe Flacco. The former Jets quarterback, 40, has helped the Bengals reestablish their passing attack with Joe Burrow sidelined and Jake Browning ineffective.

“They’re both unique in their own ways,” safety Andre Cisco said of Cincinnati’s two receivers. “Obviously, definitely dangerous with a good quarterback back there. Now they got Flacco, who can throw it around the yard.”

Flacco has had an immense impact since his trade from Cleveland, throwing five touchdown passes in two games.

Chase caught 32 passes for 374 yards in the five games before Flacco’s arrival and has 26 grabs for 255 yards with Flacco. Higgins caught 13 passes for 158 yards pre-Flacco and has 11 receptions for 158 yards with him.

“Joe’s still Joe,” Jets defensive end Jermaine Johnson said of his former teammate. “He’s still got it.”

Stephens has some history with the Bengals’ receivers. Before signing with the Jets this year, he spent four seasons with Baltimore and faced Chase and Higgins twice a year.

“We definitely had our matchups,” Stephens said. “It’s been great. It’s games that I look forward to, matchups that I look forward to.”

Stephens said he wants the challenge of defending Chase.

“Yeah, absolutely,” he said. “Absolutely.”

The Jets’ defense, particularly their passing defense, have played better the past two weeks. They’ve held teams to 13 points in each of the past two games. After giving up 11 touchdown passes through Week 5, the Jets have allowed two in the last two contests.

Gardner is a big part of that, of course. He’s given up only one catch on six targets the past two games, according to Pro Football Focus. But the Jets haven’t faced anyone close to the caliber of receiver that Chase is.

“You want to go in a game and say we want to try to take him out — that’s hard,” Wilks said. “You want to try to limit his touches in so many different ways. Sometimes that’s tough to do. But he’s a great player, man.

“Again, I’m looking forward to the challenge that we’re going to have on the outside of the ball. And I’m more than confident that we’re going to be able to get it done.”

By Al Iannazzone

al.iannazzone@newsday.comAl_Iannazzone

Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.