New York Jets linebacker Kwon Alexander showed why the team signed him this offseason with a thunderous hit in their final preseason game.

The New York Jets are a team that are trying to do everything they can to be an up-and-comer in the league, having been very aggressive when it came to their actions in the NFL Draft this past April, trading up to make a total of three selections in the first round.

With the likes of Ahmad ‘Sauce’ Gardner at cornerback, Garrett Wilson as wide receiver and Jermaine Johnson II at defensive end, they added pieces all over the field as they look to become a contender building around a young core of players.

However whilst young players are good, there still needs to be those experienced veterans to come in and help guide them through the rough and tumble of an NFL season, and that is where Kwon Alexander comes in.

Adding some critical experience 

Alexander is certainly a mystery in the NFL, because he is clearly a very productive player to have on the roster, but hasn’t been able to maintain a steady presence on any of the teams he has played for as a result of some of the horrific injuries that he has picked up during his time in the NFL.

Having been drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2015, he has also had stints with the San Francisco 49ers and the New Orleans Saints before signing with the Jets this offseason, and has put up some impressive numbers despite his bad luck with injuries.

He has 521 combined tackles, 12 sacks, 10 forced fumbles, and 8 interceptions, showing that he’s pretty much an all-rounded player on defence and someone that could make an impact anywhere, if he could just stay healthy.

But he showed exactly why the Jets picked him up with one play against the New York Giants.

What did he do?

Whilst preseason is mainly for game-planning and getting players up to speed, when the Giants play the Jets, even in preseason, there are bragging rights up for grabs, and Alexander made sure he did his utmost best to make an impact on the field with a thunderous hit on Antonio Williams:

The Jets would go on to win the game 31-27, and that particular drive ended in a punt for the Giants, so his play had a pretty big impact on the outcome of the game. 

And in that one moment he showed what he can bring to the Jets, and after going 4-13 last season, they need all the help that can get.