The Jets are hoping the return of one defensive lineman will help another get back on track, but that’s not something they should count on.

Rookie defensive tackle Quinnen Williams will return to the field against the Eagles in Week 5 after sitting out the past two games with an ankle injury. With Williams back on the field, New York gets stronger in the trenches.

In theory, that could mean a boost for defensive end Leonard Williams.

With Quinnen sidelined, Leonard was a frequent recipient of double teams and increased attention from opposing offensive lines. Now that Quinnen is back and occupying space, offensive lines will also have to pay the Alabama product respect instead of focusing solely on Leonard.

In a perfect world, Quinnen frees up opportunities for Leonard and the USC product produces more than he has been to begin the season. Unfortunately, the Jets do not live in that world right now.

With or without Quinnen on the field, Leonard has been downright disappointing dating back to last season. He has gone missing when needed the most on multiple occasions. A contract year hasn’t even been enough for him to ramp up his production and live up to the expectations that followed him into the league, which says a lot.

Look no further than Week 3 against the Patriots to get an idea of how underwhelming Leonard has been recently. Other than three meaningless tackles in garbage time, the 25-year-old did nothing to help New York’s defense. Until late in the game, his only contribution was a negative one: a 15-yard personal foul penalty.

When the Jets needed him the most, Leonard went from intimidating force to obsolete. That has been the story far too often in his tenure with the team. His lowly Pro Football Focus grade and minimal production across the board statistically reflect that.

If Quinnen was more established and playing at an elite level, maybe his return to the field would be enough to spearhead Leonard’s revitalization. Quinnen only has one game of professional football under his belt and has not earned a level of respect that takes all of the attention away from Leonard, though. If anything, Leonard would likely benefit more from stronger showings from fellow defensive end Henry Anderson.

Regardless of who steps up to the plate and who doesn’t, it’s hard to see Leonard turning it around and producing with the efforts he has been turning in lately. The Jets shouldn’t count on him getting right any time soon — even with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2019 NFL draft back in the mix.