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New York Jets coach Aaron Glenn revealed that he has been in contact with defensive back Kris Boyd and is confident the athlete will be OK after suffering a gunshot wound in midtown Manhattan in the early hours of Sunday.

Glenn described that Boyd, who is hospitalized, was “positive” during their recent conversation.

“That’s what eases my mind, is that his mood is upbeat,” Glenn stated on Wednesday. “His wife and his kid, they are holding up and he will walk away from this just fine.”

The coach did not know when Boyd would leave the hospital, where he is reported as serious yet stable.

“Still unsure,” he added. “However, I can share, just talking to him, he felt really upbeat. And again, that reassures me, given his positive frame of mind and he’s talking that way.”

Authorities shared surveillance images Monday of an individual wanted in the shooting of Boyd. A motive for the shooting is currently under review and police mentioned it remains uncertain if Boyd was targeted. There were no additional victims were reported.

The attack took place just after 2am on Sunday near Madison Square Garden and the iconic square. Boyd, in his late twenties, was taken to Bellevue Hospital after being shot in the abdomen, as reported. The shooter fled the scene.

Glenn said Boyd has been on his mind “a ton” since learning of the incident. The coach said that Boyd and his wife are new parents to a baby.

“The first thing I thought about, he recently became a father,” Glenn noted. “And I’m thinking about his wife, I’m thinking about his kid and I want to make sure that he’s OK. Those thoughts dominated my thinking.

“A certain process is underway, which I won’t get into, but I am pleased that he’s going to come out of this thing really, really well.”

Boyd did not participate during the current season, after joining the team, after being placed on injured reserve on 18 August with an injury to his shoulder that required surgery.

Boyd came to New York as a new signing in spring and was projected as an important component of an improved special teams group under the coach and special teams coordinator Chris Banjo. However, he got hurt during preseason drills on 2 August and was taken away on a cart.

Boyd has remained around the team all season long while working his way back.

“He remains involved with our activities,” Glenn stated. “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, spent his initial four years with the Vikings after his selection in the later rounds by Minnesota out of the University of Texas in 2019. He signed with the Arizona Cardinals in 2023 and later was with the Texans subsequently. Boyd inked a single-season agreement worth $1.6m with the Jets in the spring.