Kris Boyd, a cornerback for the New York Jets and a special teams standout, made a surprising return to the team facility on Wednesday, just over two weeks after suffering a gunshot wound to the abdomen in midtown Manhattan.
Boyd, who was shot shortly after 2 a.m. on November 16, attended a special teams meeting, where he engaged with his teammates and coaches. His unexpected presence brought noticeable excitement among the team members. “It was awesome to see him,” said tight end Jeremy Ruckert in an interview with ESPN. “It”s not something that we at all thought or knew was going to happen today, so it was a good surprise to see him with such high hopes and positive energy.”
Following the incident, Boyd posted on his Instagram account that “health issues” had caused him to return to the hospital. He expressed gratitude to those who had reached out to him during his recovery. “I love and appreciate every one of yall dearly who has prayed/reached out even if I can”t get back to you,” he wrote. Two days later, he shared a message stating, “I need you Father God. This one bout to be Legendary!” However, after that post, updates on his condition were sparse.
Boyd, 29, was initially taken to Bellevue Hospital after the shooting, which occurred between Madison Square Garden and Times Square. According to police reports, the shooter was able to escape the scene, and authorities have since released surveillance images of a suspect but have not made any arrests.
After the shooting, Boyd shared on his Instagram Stories that he was making progress, stating he was “coming along, starting to breathe on my own now.” Unfortunately, he had to return to the hospital shortly after being released.
This season marks Boyd”s first with the Jets, but he has not yet played due to a shoulder injury that required surgery. He was placed on the season-ending injured reserve list on August 18. Boyd began his NFL career with the Minnesota Vikings, who selected him in the seventh round of the 2019 draft from the University of Texas. He later signed with the Arizona Cardinals in 2023 before joining the practice squad of the Houston Texans later that season. In March, he signed a one-year contract with the Jets worth $1.6 million.
