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New York Jets coach Aaron Glenn revealed that he recently spoke with defensive back Kris Boyd and is confident the player 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 a recent discussion.

“What reassures me, is that his mood is upbeat,” Glenn said Wednesday. “His wife and child, they are doing well and he will come through this without issue.”

The coach did not know when Boyd could be discharged the hospital, where he has been listed as serious yet stable.

“Still unsure,” the coach said. “However, I can share, from our conversation, his attitude was encouraging. Once more, that puts my mind at ease, given his positive frame of mind and he expresses himself so positively.”

New York police issued surveillance images Monday of a man sought in the attack on the player. A motive for the shooting remains under investigation and authorities said it’s not clear 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 MSG and the iconic square. Boyd, twenty-nine, was transported to Bellevue Hospital after sustaining an abdominal gunshot wound, police said. The shooter fled the scene.

Glenn said Boyd has been on his mind “constantly” since the news broke. He further stated that Boyd and his spouse recently welcomed a child.

“The first thing I thought about, he recently became a father,” Glenn noted. “My mind went to his family, considering his child and I hope he recovers fully. And that’s the only thing that really went through my mind.

“There is a procedure involved, I’ll keep private, but I’m happy at the fact that his outcome looks very positive.”

Boyd was inactive in the present campaign, his first with the Jets, after going on the season-ending injured reserve list on 18 August with a shoulder issue that involved surgical repair.

He signed with New York as an unrestricted free agent in spring and was expected to be a significant contributor of a revamped special teams unit under Glenn and ST coordinator Chris Banjo. Unfortunately, he sustained an injury during preseason drills on August 2 and was carted from the field.

Boyd has remained around the team during the entire campaign while recovering from the shoulder injury.

“He’s been a part of what we’re doing,” Glenn commented. “In fact, he is a regular at our matches. He is completely involved. To be one of the top special teams players in this league, he has been instrumental in guiding others.”

Boyd, from Texas, played his first four seasons with the Vikings after being a seventh-round pick by the Vikings out of Texas University in 2019. 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.