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New York Jets coach Aaron Glenn revealed that he has been in contact with defensive back Kris Boyd and feels certain the player will recover well after suffering a gunshot wound in central New York in the early hours of Sunday.

Glenn noted that Boyd, who is hospitalized, was “in good spirits” during their recent conversation.

“What reassures me, is that his mood is upbeat,” Glenn stated on Wednesday. “His family, they’re in good spirits and he will come through this without issue.”

The coach did not know when Boyd could be discharged the hospital, where he has been listed as critical but stable.

“Still unsure,” the coach said. “However, I can share, from our conversation, he seemed very positive. And again, that puts my mind at ease, because of his outlook and his words reflect that optimism.”

New York police shared surveillance images earlier this week of a suspect in the shooting of Boyd. A motive for the shooting is currently under review and police mentioned it remains uncertain if Boyd was targeted. No one else was hurt according to reports.

The attack took place just after 2am on Sunday in the area between Madison Square Garden and the bustling tourist spot. Boyd, in his late twenties, was admitted to a medical center after suffering a wound to the stomach, as reported. The perpetrator got away.

Glenn mentioned Boyd has been on his mind “a great deal” since the news broke. The coach said that Boyd and his spouse are new parents to a newborn.

“The first thing I thought about, he recently became a father,” Glenn noted. “My mind went to his family, worrying about his newborn and I want to make sure that he’s OK. Those thoughts dominated my thinking.

“There is a procedure involved, that I won’t detail, but It is reassuring that he’s going to come out of this thing really, really well.”

Boyd hasn’t played during the current season, after joining the team, after being placed on injured reserve on mid-August with a shoulder injury that involved surgical repair.

He joined the Jets as a free agent in spring and was expected to be an important component of a revamped special teams unit under Glenn and special teams coordinator Chris Banjo. But Boyd was injured during preseason drills on 2 August and was carted from the field.

Boyd has stayed involved with the squad during the entire campaign while recovering from the shoulder injury.

“He’s been a part of what we’re doing,” Glenn commented. “I mean, he attends every game. He is completely involved. Given his status as a special teams standout, he has been instrumental in guiding others.”

Boyd, from Texas, played his first four seasons with Minnesota after being a seventh-round pick by the Vikings out of the University of Texas in the 2019 draft. He later played for Arizona in 2023 and later was with the Texans after that. Boyd signed a one-year contract for $1.6 million with New York in March.