Will McDonald proves to be a force for Jets against Patriots

When news of Will McDonald’s sack count began to circulate, linebacker Sam Eguavoen yelled to his teammates in a jubilant Jets locker room: “Those are Haason’s numbers!”

Indeed, McDonald’s jump made it easier for Gang Green to forget about Haason Reddick’s permanent contract – or Jermaine Johnson’s torn Achilles tendon.

In Thursday night’s 24-3 win over the Patriots, McDonald added two more sacks, giving him five in the last two games, both wins.

“His transition from freshman to sophomore is crazy,” Eguavoen told The Post. “And you could see in training camp, working from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Will is the first one here, the last one to leave.

“I don’t know what he was doing there. But he was constantly working on his craft. You could see, from the set to the field, that he was a completely different person.”

McDonald, the 15th overall pick in 2023, struggled most in lesser opportunities as a rookie, collecting three sacks on the season.

But now he’s in the spotlight, Reddick is nowhere to be seen and pass rusher Johnson is out for the season.

McDonald’s five sacks currently rank second in the NFL, with most teams yet to play a third game.

“Will’s always been a dog. It’s just the little things (he’s doing better),” said Eguavoen, a backup linebacker who recorded one tackle Thursday. “Like not being quicker under center. And not flying around the field behind the quarterback. He’s always been a crazy talent. It’s just his mindset has changed. Everybody has to think in their mind, ‘I’m him. I’m that dog.’ He found a way to bring out that dog in him this year.”

McDonald added: “I’m not impressed yet. I had to finish the season to be impressed with what I did. And like I said, it doesn’t really matter unless we get to the championship game and win that ring.”

“We have to keep pushing. Keep winning our duels. Give the ball to the attack. Keep going.”

Jets coach Robert Saleh said McDonald is still in the early stages.

“You have to be patient,” he said. “He’s coming.”

The Patriots (1-2) lack talent on offense and were stifled by the Jets, who were terrible defensively in Week 1 against the 49ers and allowed just 139 yards on Thursday.

What’s particularly impressive is that the Patriots, with their run-oriented attack, only managed 78 yards rushing.

“It’s a mindset. It’s mano a mano. It’s, ‘I have to win this one-on-one. I have to dominate him,’” Eguavoen said. “You want to run the ball, there’s no real pattern to it. Running the ball is a man’s game. Which family is tougher? Is my family going to eat or is your family going to eat? It’s pretty simple. That’s how I like football. There’s no pattern or ‘I got you.’”

“It’s the strongest family that counts.”