Aaron Glenn Says Will McDonald Has 'Earned' a Bigger Role After Trade Request

The Jets didn't grant Will McDonald IV's trade request. Now they're trying to give him what he actually wanted: more time on the field.

Coach Aaron Glenn, who met with McDonald for an hour on Saturday, said Wednesday that the pass rusher has "earned" a bigger role, ESPN's Rich Cimini reported.

McDonald's trade request became public Monday. There was interest before Tuesday's deadline, but New York held on to the 2023 first-round pick, who is signed through 2027. McDonald had been frustrated for weeks and decided enough was enough after playing only 23 of 65 defensive snaps in Sunday's 35-12 loss to the Chiefs.

Speaking Wednesday, he tried to cool things down. "I just want to clear everything up," McDonald said. "There's no hard feelings with the coaches and staff or anybody here. I just want to play, and I just want to help the team win." He said he will trust the coaches to follow through.

The playing-time gap is real. McDonald led the Jets with eight sacks last season as an every-down player, but the switch to a 3-4 front and the additions of No. 2 overall pick David Bailey, Kingsley Enagbare and Joseph Ossai cut him to 46% of the defensive snaps, mostly on passing downs. Listed at 6-foot-4 and 245 pounds, he has struggled against the run, which Glenn has to account for in putting him on the field more. McDonald has three sacks, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble this season and 24.5 sacks in 56 career games.

The Jets (2-7) have lost four straight and host the first-place Bills (7-1) on Sunday at MetLife Stadium.