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Jets head coach Aaron Glenn mentioned that he recently spoke with defensive back Kris Boyd and is confident the athlete will be OK after being shot in midtown Manhattan in the early hours of Sunday.

Glenn shared that Boyd, who is hospitalized, was “upbeat” during their latest talk.

“That gives me comfort, is that his mood is upbeat,” Glenn commented. “His wife and child, they are doing well and he will come through this without issue.”

It remained unclear when Boyd would leave the hospital, where his condition is described as critical but stable.

“Not certain at the moment,” he added. “But I will say this, just talking to him, he felt really upbeat. Furthermore, that’s what gives me comfort, that he feels like that and his words reflect that optimism.”

New York police shared surveillance images earlier this week of a man sought in the incident involving Boyd. The reason behind the incident remains under investigation and police mentioned it remains uncertain if Boyd was the intended victim. No one else was hurt according to reports.

The shooting happened around 2 a.m. on Sunday near MSG and the iconic square. Boyd, 29, was taken to a medical center after sustaining an abdominal gunshot wound, according to authorities. The perpetrator got away.

Glenn shared Boyd has been in his thoughts “a great deal” since learning of the incident. Glenn added that Boyd and his wife just had a newborn.

“The first thing I thought about, he has a new baby,” Glenn noted. “I thought of his spouse, worrying about his newborn and my priority is his well-being. And that’s the only thing that really went through my mind.

“There is a procedure involved, which I won’t get into, but I’m happy at the fact that his outcome looks very positive.”

Boyd did not participate in the present campaign, his debut year with New York, after going on the season-ending injured reserve list on 18 August with an injury to his shoulder that required surgery.

He joined the Jets as a new signing in spring and was projected as a significant contributor of an improved special teams group under Glenn and special teams coordinator the special teams coach. But Boyd was injured during a training camp practice on 2 August and was taken away on a cart.

Boyd continued to be present all season long while working his way back.

“He remains involved with our activities,” Glenn said. “In fact, he comes to the games all the time. He’s fully engaged. As one of the league’s best on special teams, he has been instrumental in guiding others.”

Boyd, from Texas, began his career with Minnesota after being a seventh-round pick by the Vikings out of UT in 2019. He joined the Arizona Cardinals in last year and later was with the Texans after that. Boyd signed a one-year contract for $1.6 million with the Jets in March.