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Updates from Week 4
Quarterbacks
Zach Wilson continues to rehab following his knee surgery. They are still evaluating him from week to week, and a clear answer on his Week 1 status for several more days. As of now veteran Joe Flacco is anticipating being the starter come Week 1. But this last week has been a shaky one for him. This week was a bit lighter in demand, and the focus was the joint practice with the New York Giants. Flacco showed a lot of inconsistency this week. Making poor decisions and forcing the ball into tight windows. His practices were filled with a mixed bag of great drives, 3-and-outs, and turning the ball over. These results were exactly what was shown in their final preseason game as well. Head coach Robert Saleh wanted to get their starting unit to play a full quarter together to knock off any rust as a unit. Flacco played for four possessions with the first team. They ended with a fumble by Michael Carter, a field goal on a short field, a punt, and then on his final possession, he threw a horrible interception right to a Giants linebacker who returned it for a touchdown. The offense with Zach Wilson will have to endure some questionable decision-making, but also, there will be some “wow” plays that make you forget about the bad ones. The hope is still that he may be back for Week 1, but if not, the goal is that Flacco has enough talent around him to keep it close and maybe steal one while Wilson is out.
Running Backs
Breece Hall continues to be the back who will demand most of the touches, but Michael Carter is still getting the reps with the initial starters. This still looks like a close to 50/50 split, at least initially, but things may have slightly changed after Michael Carter fumbled on the opening drive of their final preseason game. Robert Saleh called it “sloppy”, and we will see over the next couple of weeks how much of an impact that fumble has. Both backs have looked great, but the bigger issue may be their offensive line, which has struggled to create holes for the running game. It’s been a glaring issue in their preseason games, but the offensive line is still getting familiar with one another, so there is still time to provide more space for the backs to work with.
Wide Receivers
Rookie Garrett Wilson had a phenomenal week of practice. He made several contested catches at different times throughout the week. Flacco targeted him early and often, especially during their joint practice with the Giants. This will continue to be a great group that is going to be needed, especially if Zach Wilson must miss time. Elijah Moore, Corey Davis, and Garrett Wilson should be a strong floor for this offense. Also, Braxton Berrios, known mainly as a return man, should provide a nice spark in their short passing game. Berrios showcased this by taking a screen pass for a 21-yard touchdown. Denzel Mims was the main talk of this week, as he requested to be traded, being unhappy with his role as a backup. Robert Saleh said the main issue is Mims isn’t making enough of an impact on special teams but sees him being a part of the team heading forward. Mims responded with 7 catches for 102 yards and a touchdown in their final preseason game. Whether this was a performance to show the Jets that he needs to see the field more or to show other teams they need to trade for him, either way, it was impressive.
Tight Ends
Tyler Conklin looks to be the main tight end to be used in the passing game. C.J. Uzomah will still see the field plenty, especially as a blocker. But Conklin is athletic and a great pass catcher. This offense needs as many weapons on the field as it can get, especially with their current quarterback situation, whether it is Flacco or Wilson at the helm. Rookie Jeremy Ruckert should be a solid project down the road but won’t be someone that sees much of the field this year unless there are injuries.
Kickers
The Jets let Eddy Pineiro go this week, officially anointing Greg Zuerlein as the starting kicker. Zuerlein was always the favorite with his one-million-dollar dead cap charge were he to be released. Pineiro could get a shot to replace the injured Zane Gonzalez in Carolina and should remain one of the first kickers that teams call if they are in a pinch during the season.
Defense
The defensive line continues to be the main proponent of this unit. Quinnen Williams is looking dominant, and Carl Lawson was able to play several snaps in their final preseason game, which were his first in returning from his Achilles injury. The linebacking core has also been solid so far, and Kwon Alexander showed his game-changing ability with a crushing hit and forced fumble in their final preseason game with the Giants. The defensive backfield will be the most improved group, thanks to the addition of Sauce Gardner and D.J. Reed. Gardner was announced as a starter in Saleh’s post-game press conference. It is much deserved as he has battled to show that the top draft pick was warranted. Michael Carter II also had an interception early in their final preseason game, he should provide solid coverage this year against opposing teams’ slot receivers.
Returners
Braxton Berrios is the league’s reigning first-team All-Pro returner and will attempt to defend his title in 2022.
Updates from Week 3
Quarterbacks
Zach Wilson underwent successful arthroscopic surgery this week. As of now, Wilson’s recovery is being monitored on a week-to-week basis. There is still an outside chance of him being ready for Week 1. Head coach Robert Saleh, after the surgery, said, “We’re going to do right by him in terms of making sure he’s 100% healthy. We’re going to take it by how Zach looks, how he feels, how he moves, what the doctors tell us. Whenever that moment is, he’ll step on the field.” The staff still feels total confidence in Joe Flacco and his capability as their starter in the season opener against the Ravens. Flacco had a great week of practice and had the offense firing on all cylinders during their joint practice sessions with the Atlanta Falcons. Flacco said, “It was fun. Listen, anytime you can get more reps, the more comfortable you feel. It doesn't matter what year you're in or how many years you've been in an offense. It just helps with confidence, operating at a high level. Coming out here every day with the ones, going against the ones on defense, the more prepared you're going to be, the more confident you're going to be when you take the field." Flacco sat out Monday night’s preseason game. After the injury to Wilson, the Jets did not want to take any risks with Flacco.
Running Backs
Breece Hall continues to show his upside. Most notably Hall showcased his speed with a 75-yard touchdown run in their joint practice with the Atlanta Falcons. Hall continues to lead the backfield while Michael Carter will be the change of pace back. But there will be plenty of depth behind those two as well. Several backs are fighting for final roster spots, but Tevin Coleman looks to be the leader to win the No. 3 running back spot. The key for this group may very well be the offensive line, which is still awaiting the recent signing of tackle Duane Brown who is ramping up his conditioning to be ready to compete in full 11-on-11 drills.
Wide Receivers
The wide receiving core continues to be a bright spot and didn’t miss a beat without Zach Wilson. Elijah Moore continues to be the alpha of the group, but they have playmakers across the board, and it showed during their offensive sessions against the Falcons in joint practice. “It is a really good group, it’s a young group that has to learn how to play with one another and really elevate their game at the moment of the truth. Doing their job, running their routes, creating separation is not a problem with this group. It’s going to be the moment of truth, catch the ball and make something happen, yards after catch, explosive plays and what you do with the ball in your hands. That’s something they’re building toward, and they’ll continue to get better.” Garrett Wilson continues to have some issues with dropped passes, but it still seems to be just the rookie jitters, as there are no long-term concerns with his hands, and the rest of his game is rounding into form. He was one of the few starters to play on Monday night and had 3 catches for 15 yards. Denzel Mims is fighting for a roster spot and while he has the explosiveness and play-making ability, he may need to find a way to make an impact on special teams to secure a job.
Tight Ends
C.J. Uzomah and Tyler Conklin will still anchor this unit. Conklin had a great week of practice and stood out as a receiver this past week. Both will be expected to be a big part of pass protection as the offense has so many other weapons to target through the air.
Kickers
It’s safe to assume that Greg Zuerlein is ahead in the kicker battle with Eddy Pineiro. Zuerlein went 4-for-4 in field goal attempts on August 15, while Pineiro was out with back tightness. According to the team last week, this was neck and neck, but a bad back could cause separation in the race.
Defense
The defense only played four starters in their preseason game Monday night. Saleh’s biggest emphasis right now is keeping the group healthy and fresh, something they were unable to do last year when injuries plagued them throughout the season. The defensive line continues to be the strongest of this group. The pass rush will be the most secure aspect of their defense and Carl Lawson who is finally healthy will be a big reason why. The rookies will make an immediate impact as well. Jermaine Johnson continues to impress with his ability to get to opposing quarterbacks with his power rushing. Sauce Gardner has had his ups and downs, but the adjustment from college to NFL is one of the tougher ones for cornerbacks. He will be expected to start in Week 1.
Offensive Line
Left tackle Mekhi Becton blew his knee out and was placed on injured reserve. The team signed Pro Bowler Duane Brown to play left tackle, which meant George Fant swapped to the right side. Brown is 37 and better in run blocking than in pass protection. But despite the upheaval, there is a scenario where this lineup performs slightly better with Brown and Fant. The Jets added another Pro Bowler in Laken Tomlinson at left guard. The starting five are the most expensive line in football. They have the potential to rise but start the season as a low-tier group due to all the changes.
Updates from Week 2
Quarterbacks
It was a stressful 15 hours awaiting the results of Zach Wilson’s MRI. The results showed a bone bruise and meniscus tear. Wilson is expected to miss 2-4 weeks. There is an outside chance he'll be ready for the season opener on September 11, but that will depend on whether more damage is discovered during the arthroscopy. It is unfortunate timing, as Wilson had a great week of practice and looked to be rounding into form. Head coach Robert Saleh had nothing but high praise for Wilson this week in practice. “He's unflappable in terms of not losing confidence and getting down on himself after a bad play or a bad day. He had a throw today and turned right around to Mike [LaFleur.] They had a discussion about it and kept it moving. Really like where his head is right now and really like where the entire offense is, especially in those move-the-ball periods. It seems like they're executing at a high level."
When Wilson makes a mistake, he learns from it and moves on. He started the first preseason game doing just that, making a mistake. Wilson threw a bad interception where he stared down Corey Davis on a dig route allowing Eagles’ linebacker Kyzir White to jump into the throwing lane. On the next drive, Wilson and the offense started moving the ball. He was under heavy pressure and decided to scramble, he made a hard cut, and his knee gave out. The worst fear has been avoided, but reality will begin to set in now as the Jets will be without Wilson for at least the remainder of the preseason. Joe Flacco is set to take over. Flacco had the night off, but Saleh and the coaching staff feel very comfortable with Flacco leading the Jets in the interim. "You guys know how I feel about Joe," Saleh said. "Everyone does; the whole world knows. Joe is a phenomenal football player. He's having a great camp, and he has a lot of juice left in the tank."
Regardless of the faith in Flacco, this is another big blow losing Wilson for any amount of time as the Jets had already lost starting tackle Mekhi Becton for the season earlier in the week. The Jets signed veteran Duane Brown on Thursday to help fill that void in protecting the quarterback. The good news is the Jets allowed zero sacks during Friday’s preseason game. Mike White struggled to manifest much on offense, appearing in 6 series during the contest and going 10/20 for 96 yards.
Running Backs
Breece Hall looks every bit the workhorse he was drafted to be. He continues to excel in all phases of the game, including as a pass catcher. Michael Carter will still be an integral part of the offense, too. Both runners played for just two series against Philadelphia but handled quality touches between the tackles. The competition at No. 3 remains contentious between LaMical Perine, Zonovan Knight, Ty Johnson, and Tevin Coleman.
Wide Receivers
The receiving core is talented and has untapped potential. Elijah Moore is the go-to option. He had another great week of practice, and his route running and hands have looked pristine throughout camp. Garrett Wilson has had rookie struggles, including a dropped pass in Wednesday's practice that would've been an easy touchdown. He did follow it up with a solid showing against the Eagles with two catches for 25 yards across the three series he played. The Zach Wilson injury may affect him the most because the preseason is crucial for a rookie to build rapport with his quarterback. Corey Davis continues to impress. He looks like he is emerging as the clear No. 2 option and has been a consistent option behind Moore. This is all subject to change with Flacco at the helm, though, so we will closely monitor these next few weeks. Braxton Berrios and Denzel Mims are still in the mix, with Berrios holding a slight edge, but it looks like Berrios’ focus will still be as a special team’s return man.
Tight Ends
Offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur is known for utilizing tight ends. Despite all being new to the team, Tyler Conklin, C.J. Uzomah, and Jeremy Ruckert are fitting in. Saleh has loved what he has seen from the group, and especially Conklin. "Conk is awesome," Saleh said. "He's been fantastic for us. The whole [tight end] group really has been really good for us, but as far as he's concerned, just his ability on third down to create separation and win those one-on-ones and be a run blocker, he's an all-around tight end. He's been a pleasant surprise." In their preseason game, Conklin secured 3 catches for 23 yards. Ruckert, who missed OTAs and some of training camp, looked great with two catches for 3 yards including a 1-yard touchdown catch.
Kickers
Head coach Robert Saleh said the kicking competition between Greg Zuerlein and Eddy Pineiro is “neck and neck” on August 10. Zuerlein made all five field goal attempts in practice that day, while Pineiro was 4-for-5 with a miss from 33 yards. In the preseason opener, Zuerlein went 3-for-3 on extra points, while Pineiro converted his only kick of the game, a 26-yard field goal. Saleh asked for the fans' forgiveness when the team doesn’t go for it on fourth down in the preseason because he wants to give the kickers opportunities to see what they can do.
Defense
The defensive line has looked great so far through training camp. Especially when it comes to getting after the quarterback. Run stopping is still the big concern to tighten up from last year. They were without five starters for their preseason opener, and they had about as bad as a showing as you could have. Yes, the Eagles’ offense is no pushover, but their first two drives amassed 100 yards for two touchdowns and both drives were almost all through the air. The defense rarely blitzed and showed vanilla coverages, which might have been part of the reason why. On the opening drive, the defense had the Eagles stopped on third down with a sack by Quinnen Williams, who pursued Jalen Hurts out of bounds. But the drive was extended because of an unnecessary roughness penalty for a late hit by LB Quincy Williams. A few plays later, the Eagles found the endzone. Saleh called the late hit “egregiously awful” when asked about it. The defense has a lot of new faces, so it may take some time to come together through the preseason. But this opening preseason game went about as poorly as possible for the starting unit. The second and third groups held their own by holding the Eagles to only 211 yards and 7 points after the first two possessions.
Returners
Braxton Berrios has had to fight for a roster spot for his entire career, but after a first-team All-Pro season as a returner in 2021, his spot is secure. Head coach Robert Saleh said of Berrios, "I am just thankful that he plays here."
Updates from Week 1
Quarterbacks
The story for Jets training camp centers on second-year quarterback Zach Wilson. After a rookie season that didn’t instill much hope in the Jets faithful, the first week of camp was mixed. Saturday’s Green & White practice at MetLife Stadium was a great example of his ebbs and flows. On the positive side, Wilson began the event with an 11-play, 75-yard drive capped off with a touchdown pass. Wilson completed all five of his passes while adding a pair of scrambles for over 20 yards. The downside was that he didn’t do well in the later half of the scrimmage, including an interception where he forced the ball into coverage, something he did too often as a rookie. In the later portions, neither of the starting tackles (Mekhi Becton and George Fant) were on the field, resulting in more pressure on Wilson. The bottom line is that Wilson needs to learn to deal with situations like this more effectively and make better decisions with the football. Joe Flacco can step in if Wilson falters but is well past his prime. Mike White had a productive but short run last year, but he’s proven to be no more than a backup. The Jets need Wilson to improve, and the coming weeks will be critical to see if that happens.
Running Backs
The Jets invested heavily in their backfield by taking Breece Hall with the 36th pick in the draft. The former Iowa State back had "feature back" written all over his prospect profile, and he’s done nothing to dispel that through the first week of camp. Hall busted some long runs and showed a good nose for the hole. This doesn’t mean the Jets have forgotten about the versatile Michael Carter. Connor Hughes of SNYtv summarizes these two nicely: “[Hall] is now Batman to Carter’s Robin." The Jets will use both, but Hall is the lead back. Head coach Robert Saleh may feel like he has a three-headed monster on his hands, but the reality is that veterans Tevin Coleman, LaMical Perine, and Ty Johnson (currently out with a hamstring injury) are fighting for scraps barring injury.
Wide Receivers
The Jets knew they couldn’t stand pat at wide receiver this offseason, and they didn’t. They drafted the talented Garrett Wilson with the 10th overall pick. With Garrett Wilson on board, Elijah Moore ready to blossom, and veteran Corey Davis in the fold, Zach Wilson has the tools around him to become the quarterback this team needs. How the team cuts up targets remains to be seen. Moore is emerging as the alpha of the group. In one practice, he made a fantastic one-handed catch. His routes look sharp, and his ability to make tough catches is fully on display. Zach Wilson and Davis also hooked up, and their chemistry, like that of Zach Wilson and Moore, continues to improve. Garrett Wilson is a work in progress to fully grasp the offense and work through the soreness of a week in training camp. For his part, Zach Wilson is excited and described Garrett Wilson as a “freak” of an athlete once he gets up to speed. That raw talent sometimes bubbled up, including one practice where he made a diving catch over the middle for a first down. Moore and Davis will likely lead the way in targets, but as the season progresses, Garrett Wilson could overtake others like Braxton Berrios and Denzel Mims in short time.
Tight Ends
The Jets' tight-end production has been underwhelming in recent years. Free agent additions C.J. Uzomah and Tyler Conklin probably won’t change that much, but they are competing for the job. After one week in camp, Conklin is creating separation and impressing onlookers. Conklin excelled in Saturday’s 7-on-7 drills, launching himself into the air and using his body to ward off a defender while making a catch. Later in 11-on-11s, he snagged two of Zach Wilson’s passes, but Conklin and Wilson are building rapport and are a pairing to watch the next few weeks.
Kickers
According to AP sportswriter Dennis Waszak Jr., special teams coach Brant Boyer said the kicking competition between Greg Zuerlein and Eddy Pineiro is going well, with both kickers making fixes to “very, very small issues” - ball flight for Zuerlein and getting rise on kicks for Pineiro. Zuerlein missed practice this week with a toe issue that is considered minor and may not sideline him for much longer. Pineiro was 3 for 4 in practice on August 3, making multiple kicks from 50+ and missing from 55. Zuerlein’s one million dollar guarantee on the one-year deal gives him the edge here.
Defense
The Jets have a lot of new pieces that will need a full camp to get their feet underneath them as a unit. So far, the pass rush was able to generate pressure on Wilson, causing him to make poor decisions, but the run defense is clearly behind. Last year the team was 29th in the NFL in rushing yards allowed per game and gave up an average of 138.3 yards. Opposing rushers averaged 4.48 yards per carry making them 24th in the league. Over this past week, the running backs have made it look like the defense is in for another long year stopping the run. Head coach Robert Saleh says explosive plays of 12 yards or more were the issue. The team’s secondary expects to be improved after adding corner D.J. Reed, safety Jordan Whitehead, and rookie Ahmad Gardner. Gardner did well, but the team isn’t throwing him as a starter yet. Reed and Whitehead seem to be settling in well.
