![\"Pryor](\"https:\/\/miletestsite.com\/jets\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/IMG_8761.jpg\")
<\/a>Pryor was removed from Sunday’s game with a minor knee injury.<\/p><\/div>\n
Dion Bailey, signed by the Jets just last Monday and participated in only two practices got the nod to step in for the banged up Pryor. \u00a0In limited action Bailey managed to rack up three tackles and a pass break-up as Miami tried desperately to mount a late comeback.<\/p>\n
As some have pointed out, it was a whirlwind week<\/a><\/strong><\/span> for Bailey who flew cross-country to join the Jets after being waived by the Seattle Seahawks, only to go in to panic mode<\/a><\/strong><\/span> once he learned the Jets would be flying to London just a few days later to take on the Dolphins.<\/p>\n As is often the case with NFL players making an attempt to establish themselves, Bailey has had his share of ups and downs already this season, but uncertainty appears to be something that has followed him since his freshman season at USC.<\/p>\n After redshriting his first campaign at USC where he was slated to play safety, Bailey was converted to linebacker by the Trojans where he made a strong impression early on, being named Pac-12 freshman defensive player of the year<\/a><\/strong><\/span>.<\/p>\n Bailey, a redshirt freshman from Lakewood, Calif., was a standout member of the Trojans defense and tied for the team lead with 81 tackles on the season. He averaged 7.4 tackles per game to rank sixth in the Pac-12. Bailey had two sacks, two interceptions and one forced fumble. He had a career-high 14 tackles against Arizona, the most by a USC freshman since Chris Claiborne’s 20 in 1996.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n After spending two seasons at linebacker, racking up 96 solo tackles, 10 tackles for loss and \u00a0six interceptions, the 6′ 210 lb defender was shifted yet again, back to safety for his Junior year where he would produce 46 solo tackles, \u00a07 TFL, \u00a01 sack and \u00a02 interceptions. \u00a0Pleased with his college production, Bailey he decided to leave school a year early to enter the NFL draft.<\/p>\n The versatile Bailey filled multiple roles at USC.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n Disappointment would follow as Bailey wasn’t selected in the draft, but then, a positive development. \u00a0The Seattle Seahawks, one of the league’s elite franchises, known developing defensive backs,\u00a0came calling. \u00a0Bailey wasted little time and signed with the defending Super Bowl champs.<\/p>\n Bailey would stick\u00a0with Seattle’s practice squad in 2014, no easy task given the personnel on what was considered the NFL’s most talented secondary. \u00a0He would just have to wait for an opportunity to get on the field, and that opportunity presented itself earlier this season.<\/p>\n With standout safety Kam Chancellor holding out for a new contract in a dispute that was expected to last in to the regular season, Bailey earned the starting nod from Head Coach Pete Carroll. \u00a0From undrafted rookie free agent just one season before, to replacing one of the best players in the game at his position for the NFC champs. \u00a0Bailey had to know his time as a starter was limited to the length of Chancellor’s holdout, but he couldn’t have known what was coming next.<\/p>\n\n
Freshman Defensive Player of the Year Dion Bailey, LB, USC<\/h3>\n
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