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New York Jets coach Aaron Glenn has stated that he has been in contact with defensive back Kris Boyd and believes the player will recover well after being shot in central New York in the early hours of Sunday.

Glenn shared that Boyd, who is hospitalized, was “upbeat” during their latest talk.

“That gives me comfort, is that his mood is upbeat,” Glenn commented. “His family, they are holding up and he will walk away from this just fine.”

Glenn was unsure when Boyd might be released the medical facility, where he has been listed as serious yet stable.

“Don’t know just yet,” he added. “Yet I must mention, hearing him speak, he seemed very positive. And again, that puts my mind at ease, that he feels like that and his words reflect that optimism.”

NYPD shared security footage Monday of a man sought in the incident involving Boyd. What prompted the attack remains under investigation and police mentioned it is unknown if Boyd was targeted. No other injuries were reported.

The attack took place just after 2am on Sunday morning in the area between the famous arena and the iconic square. Boyd, twenty-nine, was transported to a local hospital after being shot in the abdomen, police said. The assailant escaped.

Glenn shared Boyd has occupied his thinking “a ton” since the news broke. Glenn added that Boyd and his spouse just had a child.

“The first thing I thought about, he recently became a father,” Glenn remarked. “My mind went to his family, worrying about his newborn and I want to make sure that he’s OK. And that’s the only thing that really went through my mind.

“There is a procedure involved, that I won’t detail, but I am pleased that he’s going to come out of this thing really, really well.”

Boyd did not participate in the present campaign, his debut year with New York, after being placed on injured reserve on mid-August with a shoulder injury that required surgery.

He joined the Jets as an unrestricted free agent in March and was projected as a key part of an improved special teams group under Glenn and special teams coordinator the special teams coach. Unfortunately, he sustained an injury during a training camp practice on 2 August and was taken away on a cart.

Boyd continued to be present all season long while recovering from the shoulder injury.

“He has stayed engaged with the team,” Glenn said. “I mean, he attends every game. He’s fully engaged. Given his status as a special teams standout, he has excelled at supporting his teammates.”

Boyd, a Texas native, spent his initial four years with Minnesota after his selection in the later rounds by the Vikings out of Texas University in the 2019 draft. He later played for Arizona in last year and then joined Houston’s practice squad later that season. Boyd inked a single-season agreement worth $1.6m with New York in the spring.