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Jets head coach Aaron Glenn has stated that he has been in contact with defensive back Kris Boyd and is confident the player will recover well after being shot in midtown Manhattan early Sunday morning.

Glenn noted that Boyd, currently in the hospital, was “positive” during their recent conversation.

“That gives me comfort, is that he’s feeling positive,” Glenn said Wednesday. “His wife and child, they’re in good spirits and he will come through this without issue.”

It remained unclear when Boyd might be released the hospital, where his condition is described as serious yet stable.

“Not certain at the moment,” the coach said. “However, I can share, from our conversation, he felt really upbeat. Once more, that puts my mind at ease, given his positive frame of mind and he’s talking that way.”

New York police issued security footage earlier this week of a suspect in the attack on the player. A motive for the shooting is still being looked into and officials stated it remains uncertain if Boyd was the intended victim. No other injuries were reported.

The attack took place around 2 a.m. on Sunday near Madison Square Garden and the bustling tourist spot. Boyd, in his late twenties, was admitted to a local hospital after sustaining an abdominal gunshot wound, according to authorities. The assailant escaped.

Glenn said Boyd has been on his mind “a ton” since learning of the incident. He further stated that Boyd and his spouse recently welcomed a baby.

“What immediately crossed my mind, he just had a kid,” Glenn noted. “I thought of his spouse, worrying about his newborn and my priority is his well-being. Those thoughts dominated my thinking.

“There’s a process to this, I’ll keep private, but I’m happy at the fact that he will recover excellently.”

Boyd hasn’t played in the present campaign, his debut year with New York, after his season was cut short due to injury on August 18 with an injury to his shoulder that needed an operation.

He joined the Jets as a new signing in spring and was expected to be a key part of the team’s updated special teams under Glenn and special teams coordinator the special teams coach. But Boyd was injured during preseason drills on 2 August and had to be helped off.

Boyd continued to be present throughout the season while recovering from the shoulder injury.

“He has stayed engaged with the team,” Glenn stated. “Certainly, he comes to the games all the time. His commitment is total. To be one of the top special teams players in this league, he’s done a really good job of helping the other guys we have.”

Boyd, from Texas, began his career with the Vikings after getting drafted in the seventh round by the Vikings out of UT in 2019. He later played for the Arizona Cardinals in last year and moved to Houston’s squad after that. Boyd signed a one-year contract worth $1.6m with the Jets in March.