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New York Jets coach Aaron Glenn has stated that he recently spoke with defensive back Kris Boyd and believes the athlete will be OK after being shot in central New York in the early hours of Sunday.

Glenn noted that Boyd, currently in the hospital, was “upbeat” during their latest talk.

“What reassures me, is that he’s in good spirits,” Glenn stated on Wednesday. “His wife and child, 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 is reported as critical but stable.

“Still unsure,” the coach said. “Yet I must mention, hearing him speak, he felt really upbeat. Once more, that puts my mind at ease, that he feels like that and he’s talking that way.”

NYPD released security footage Monday of a man sought in the attack on the player. A motive for the shooting remains under investigation and authorities said it is unknown if Boyd was the intended victim. No one else was hurt according to reports.

The incident occurred just after 2am on Sunday morning about halfway between Madison Square Garden and the iconic square. Boyd, in his late twenties, was admitted to a medical center after suffering a wound to the stomach, according to authorities. The perpetrator got away.

Glenn shared Boyd has been on his mind “a great deal” since he heard about the shooting. He further stated that Boyd and his wife are new parents to a child.

“My initial concern, he has a new baby,” Glenn said. “And I’m thinking about his wife, considering his child and I want to make sure that he’s OK. And that’s the only thing that really went through my mind.

“There’s a process to this, which I won’t get into, but I am pleased that he will recover excellently.”

Boyd was inactive this season, his debut year with New York, after his season was cut short due to injury on 18 August with a shoulder injury that involved surgical repair.

He signed with New York as an unrestricted free agent in spring and was projected as a key part of the team’s updated special teams under the coach and ST coordinator Chris Banjo. However, he got hurt during a training camp practice on 2 August and had to be helped off.

Boyd continued to be present throughout the season while healing from his surgery.

“He remains involved with our activities,” Glenn said. “I mean, he comes to the games all the time. He’s fully engaged. As one of the league’s best on special teams, he’s done a really good job of helping the other guys we have.”

Boyd, a Texas native, played his first four seasons with Minnesota after getting drafted in the seventh round by the Vikings out of Texas University in 2019. He signed with Arizona in last year and then joined Houston’s practice squad later that season. Boyd signed a one-year contract for $1.6 million with New York in the spring.