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New York Jets coach Aaron Glenn revealed that he has been in contact with defensive back Kris Boyd and feels certain the player 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 “upbeat” during their latest talk.

“What reassures me, is that his mood is upbeat,” Glenn commented. “His wife and his kid, they’re in good spirits and he will walk away from this just fine.”

The coach did not know when Boyd could be discharged the hospital, where he has been listed as in critical but steady condition.

“Still unsure,” he added. “However, I can share, hearing him speak, he felt really upbeat. Furthermore, that’s what gives me comfort, given his positive frame of mind and his words reflect that optimism.”

New York police shared security footage Monday of a suspect in the shooting of Boyd. A motive for the shooting remains under investigation and police mentioned it is unknown if Boyd was singled out. There were no additional victims were reported.

The incident occurred around 2 a.m. on Sunday morning near Madison Square Garden and the iconic square. Boyd, twenty-nine, was taken to a medical center after sustaining an abdominal gunshot wound, police said. The assailant escaped.

Glenn said Boyd has occupied his thinking “constantly” since he heard about the shooting. Glenn added that Boyd and his spouse are new parents to a baby.

“The first thing I thought about, he recently became a father,” Glenn said. “I thought of his spouse, I’m thinking about his kid and I hope he recovers fully. Those thoughts dominated my thinking.

“A certain process is underway, that I won’t detail, but I am pleased that his outcome looks very positive.”

Boyd was inactive this season, his debut year with New York, after his season was cut short due to injury on mid-August with an injury to his shoulder that needed an operation.

Boyd came to New York as a new signing in March and was anticipated to become a significant contributor of a revamped special teams unit under Glenn and special teams coordinator Chris Banjo. However, he got hurt during a training camp practice on early August and was carted from the field.

Boyd has remained around the team throughout the season while recovering from the shoulder injury.

“He’s been a part of what we’re doing,” Glenn commented. “I mean, he is a regular at our matches. He’s fully engaged. Given his status as a special teams standout, he’s done a really good job of helping the other guys we have.”

Boyd, hailing from the Lone Star State, spent his initial four years with Minnesota after being a seventh-round pick by the Vikings out of the University of Texas in the 2019 draft. He joined the Arizona Cardinals in last year and later was with the Texans after that. Boyd agreed to a one-year deal worth $1.6m with the Jets in the spring.