Jets sign son of late ex-Nets star Darryl Dawkins to bolster offensive…
The Jets on Tuesday quietly signed a younger offensive lineman who occurs to be the son of an NBA legend.
The signing of Nick Dawkins, a 6-4, 305-pound undrafted guard and middle, went considerably unnoticed because he was basically introduced to the apply squad to add depth to a line that misplaced beginning left guard Dylan Parham to a knee injury Sunday.
The 24-year-old Dawkins is the son of longtime NBA favourite Darryl Dawkins, who performed for the 76ers, Nets, Jazz and Pistons and died of a coronary heart assault in 2015 when Nick was 13. Nick Dawkins wears No. 53 in honor of one of his father’s NBA uniform numbers.
Asked if he’s any good at basketball, Dawkins told The Post: “No, that’s why I’m right here. I can get rather a lot of rebounds, block rather a lot of photographs and foul, however I can’t actually put the ball in the hoop.’’
Dawkins said his dad is always in his ideas.
“I believe about him every single day — more so because I miss him, and I want he’d been in a position to see the issues I’ve been in a position to do and the way I attempt to characterize our last identify,’’ Dawkins said. “I believe about legacy, however truthfully I’m just making an attempt to carve my very own path. I assume doing that is subconsciously still considering about him, however I’m actually just making an attempt to make my very own identify, make my very own bones.’’
Nick Dawkins (53) of the Baltimore Ravens strains up against the Philadelphia Eagles during the second half of a preseason game at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland, on August 15, 2026. Getty Images
Dawkins, who’s cousins with Knicks star Karl-Anthony Towns, who’s Darryl Dawkins’ godson, was signed first by the Ravens as an undrafted free agent after the NFL Draft in April and was waived Sept. 3.
“This is the first place that was going to give me a good shake,’’ he said of the Jets signing him. “I used to be on the sofa for a pair of weeks. I got here in for a workout, and I’m appreciative of it.’’
He has a well-recognized face in the locker room in Jets left deal with Olu Fashanu, with whom he performed at Penn State.
Fashanu’s face lit up when Dawkins’ signing was introduced up to him on Thursday.
Darryl Dawkins (53) of the New Jersey Nets shoots against the Washington Bullets during an NBA basketball game at the Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland, circa 1985. Dawkins performed for the Nets from 1982 to 1987. Getty Images
“I believe of Nick like a brother, so to have him in the locker room, another acquainted face from Penn State, that’s cool,’’ he told The Post. “Growing up, I performed basketball, so I knew about Darryl Dawkins and every thing. Once we launched ourselves at Penn State, I related the last identify. Eventually, we obtained to speaking about it, and he told us rather a lot of tales about his dad that have been fairly entertaining.’’
The Jets gamers who didn’t apply Wednesday — RB Breece Hall (quad), WR Adonai Mitchell (finger), TE Mason Taylor (thumb), G Dylan Parham (knee) and LB Kiko Mauigoa (quad) — also didn’t apply Thursday and are extremely probably to sit out Sunday’s game at the Bears.
Edge rusher Kingsley Enegbare, however, was addition to the report on Thursday with a knee ailment and didn’t apply. This is a priority for the Jets, significantly against a stout Chicago speeding assault if he can’t play.
TEs Kenyon Sadiq (again) and Jeremy Ruckert (knee) have been restricted in apply however are anticipated to play.
Starting security Minkah Fitzpatrick, who was misplaced to a groin injury early in the season opener and hasn’t performed since, practiced totally Thursday after being restricted Wednesday and can play Sunday.
“We’re definitely excited about [Fitzpatrick] coming again,’’ defensive coordinator Brian Duker said Thursday. “He’ll present who he’s as a participant, like he has throughout his profession.’’
Despite the fact that DE Will McDonald has been quiet for the past two games and performed only a restricted quantity of snaps Sunday in Detroit, Duker praised him Thursday, saying he’s “very proud of Will,’’ and including, “He’s gone out there and completed a pleasant job — clearly the big sack against Tennessee comes to thoughts.’’
Duker said he has no thought which QB the Bears will play Sunday, Case Keenum or Tyson Bagent. Keenum began Monday night time and was 24 of 34 for 247 yards, two TDs and no INTs in the Bears’ 27-7 rout of the Eagles. Starter Caleb Williams stays out with a hamstring injury suffered two games in the past.
Jets head coach Aaron Glenn and Duker each coached in Detroit when Bears head coach Ben Johnson was the offensive coordinator. Asked on Thursday if there’s any benefit to understanding Johnson’s tendencies, Duker said: “I’d really suppose rather a lot of occasions that cancels itself out because he is aware of some of our tendencies too. So, as a lot as there’s familiarity, there’s equal information on either side. It finally ends up being a bit bit of cat and mouse at that point.’’
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