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Updates from Week 4
Quarterbacks
The offense will go as far as Aaron Rodgers can take it in 2023, and the preseason results were encouraging. The Athletic’s Zach Rosenblatt tracked every Rodgers throw during 11-on-11 drills in training camp and tallied 170 completions in 268 attempts (63.4%) with 18 touchdowns and four interceptions. Rodgers punctuated his first preseason in Gotham by completing 5-of--8 passes for 47 yards, including a gorgeous 14-yard touchdown toss to his No.1 wide receiver, Garrett Wilson, in Saturday’s preseason finale against the Giants. After the game, Rodgers seemed pleased with his first preseason action since 2018. “I got in, didn't get hurt, scored,” he said succinctly. “A good night.” The offensive line is a potential problem spot, but the unit received two pieces of encouraging news this week. First, Mekhi Becton was named the starting right tackle. Becton, the No. 11 overall pick in the 2020 draft, has worked his way back from knee injuries that cost him back-to-back seasons. Second, starting left tackle Duane Brown was activated from the PUP list. It may take a few regular-season games for the pass protection to gel, but the arrow is undoubtedly pointing up. Backup quarterback Zach Wilson wrapped up a serviceable preseason by completing 11-of-18 passes for 107 yards against the Giants.
Running Backs
New York has assembled a strong stable of running backs, but the in-season roles remain unclear. Breece Hall has impressed Aaron Rodgers in his return to practice. “The difference we see when Breece is on the field is substantial,” Rodgers said. He then likened Hall’s running style to that of Packers four-time Pro Bowler Ahman Green. Hall’s performance also caught the attention of Coach Saleh this week. “God, he’s so fast,” Saleh said while being told that Hall had just reached 21 mph while running a slant route. “He just … poof.” Newly-signed Dalvin Cook still has yet to practice, as he left camp for the birth of his child. “They just had their baby. So, he’s traveling back,” said Saleh noted. “He wouldn’t have played this weekend anyway. We’re just getting him ready for Week 1.” Michael Carter played all ten snaps with the starting unit on Saturday, locking him into the No. 3 role.
Wide Receivers
No. 1 receiver Garrett Wilson has aced his chemistry class with Rodgers. Wilson and Rodgers only played the first two series on Saturday, but they connected on three passes for 30 yards, including the game's opening score -- a pinpoint 14-yard dart. “Just a great throw from Aaron,” said Wilson. “He's so precise and has an answer to everything we see. So I just have to do my job at that point and make the catch.” The depth chart behind Wilson got shaken up a bit last week with Corey Davis’ surprise retirement. Allen Lazard is locked in as the other starter in two-receiver sets. Lazard missed Saturday’s preseason finale with a sprained AC joint in his shoulder but should be okay for the start of the regular season. In his absence, Randall Cobb drew the start alongside Wilson, though Mecole Hardman rotated evenly with the starters. The weekly upside of both Cobb and Hardman increases with Davis no longer on the roster but will still be volatile. Hardman injured his finger in Saturday’s game, but Saleh said he is fine and unsure if the veteran will miss practice.
Tight Ends
Tyler Conklin and C.J. Uzomah continued to split snaps and routes run evenly with the first team on Saturday. While Conklin’s ceiling gets hurt by the platoon, he makes the much better speculative late-round gamble in fantasy leagues. Conklin’s 27 targets during training camp practices were second-most behind Lazard’s 28. And his 22 catches trailed only Michael Carter’s 24 for the team lead.
Defense
The Jets have an elite defensive front that is also one of the deepest in the NFL. The starters only played seven snaps Saturday but showed enough for Coach Saleh. “I just saw the first couple of series,” Saleh said. “And they are ready.” Last year’s first-round draft pick, edge Jermaine Johnson, is poised to improve this season. “He's really taken his game to the next level,” defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich said. “I see a hunger in his eye and a focus that maybe wasn't there, as consistently as it is for most rookies. He's really trying to be the all-around end, which is really hard to find nowadays. You got rushers, you got run stoppers. Typically, you don't have guys that do both really well, and I think he's really focusing on being that guy and some really encouraging signs out there that he is that guy.” The Jets will need to lean more on Johnson if starting edge Carl Lawson is not ready for the season opener. “I don’t have that for you yet,” Saleh said when asked for Lawson’s Week 1 status.
Returners
After losing Braxton Berrios in free agency, the Jets signed former Chiefs receiver Mecole Hardman to help bolster their return unit. Hardman has been inconsistent as a returner over his career, but he has plenty of experience and is a lock to make the final 53-man roster.
Updates from Week 3
Quarterbacks
The offensive line play remains a potential Achilles heel for Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers was sacked six times in ten dropbacks during Wednesday’s joint practice with Tampa Bay. After the line’s latest poor performance, Rodgers downplayed concerns. “It’s August 16th,” Rodgers said, “we’ve got some time. Also, it’s coming up. I don’t get concerned heavily about things I don’t have a huge role in yet. Now, that might change. At some point, I might say I need the five who are going to be in there with me for a solid week. But I don’t think we’re at that point yet because I don’t think there are five guys that have earned those spots … I’m going to have some patience with that.” Head coach Robert Saleh was not as patient. In the latest episode of HBO’s Hard Knocks, Saleh put the offensive line on notice. “Offense, it was our first (expletive) opportunity to change the stink that’s been in this organization for a very long time on the offensive side of the ball. You can have a Hall of Fame quarterback. You can have two $10M-plus receivers. You can have a reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year. You can have all kinds of skill in the running back room. None of it (expletive) matters until the big boys up front change who the (expletive) we are.” Perhaps in a bit of wishful thinking, Rodgers privately mentioned trading for Green Bay Packers three-time Pro Bowl left tackle David Bakhtiari. Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst quickly shot the notion down. Zach Wilson continued his solid preseason against the Buccaneers, completing 9-of-13 passes for 70 yards and adding a nifty 35-yard run. Tim Boyle struggled again, raising questions about whether he will be the No. 3 quarterback. Considering how Wilson has progressed, the Jets may only carry two quarterbacks.
Running Backs
On the same day the Jets signed free-agent running back Dalvin Cook, Breece Hall came off the PUP list ten months after sustaining a season-ending ACL tear. "It was exciting," Hall told reporters, "I'm looking for bigger things than just practice.” Saleh said he hopes Hall is ready to play in Week 1 against Buffalo but won't rush things or endanger Hall's long-term health. "The timeline doesn't change," Saleh said. "We're comfortable where he's at, confident that he'll be ready for Week 1. He looks awesome, he has been deliberate, but we want to protect him from him. As far as Breece goes in preparation for Week 1, our anticipation will not change." Cook hasn’t practiced yet and won’t for at least another week, according to Saleh, as the veteran completes his recovery from offseason shoulder surgery. It is already clear, however, that New York considers their backfield a one-two punch with Hall and Cook. “As a defensive coach, I’ll just sit there and say: Gosh, you have Breece and him, and you’ve got two of those guys in the backfield,” Saleh said. “There’s a lot of different things you can do to create a bunch of headaches for defensive coaches. (Cook)’s not a trick back, either: You can turn around and hand him the ball, and he’ll run downhill. He’s done it for a long time.” Rookie Israel Abanikanda will likely keep a roster spot, though the thigh contusion he sustained on Saturday bears watching. That leaves Zonovan Knight on the roster bubble. Michael Carter was rested for the Tampa Bay game, while Knight gained 33 yards on eight carries but lost a fumble.
Wide Receivers
Rodgers was thrilled to have his top weapon, Garrett Wilson, back on the practice field this week. "The biggest difference, going against Carolina and against Tampa, was him (Wilson) being on the field," Rodgers said. "The talent is really impressive. He makes difficult things look easy. It's the person that he is, too. Receivers are an interesting personality. They're usually the most talented guys on the team athletically. Everybody wants the football, everybody wants to be on the field, everybody thinks they're open all the time. I've had some great ones over the years that were great people as well. Garrett's the same way." The Jets started Allen Lazard and Mecole Hardman Jr. on Saturday, cementing their spots as numbers two and three on the depth chart, respectively. It was encouraging for Hardman’s role that the team is willing to play him in two-receiver sets after he was limited to three-wide sets in the last game. Corey Davis and Randall Cobb are also locks to make the final roster. Assuming the Jets keep six wide receivers, Jason Brownlee helped his cause against Tampa Bay. After recently losing some of the momentum he had built up over the spring and early summer, Brownlee needed a solid game to help build his chances back up, and he did so with four catches for 50 yards on six targets.
Tight Ends
It was a quiet week for the tight ends. Tyler Conklin and C.J. Uzomah rotated with the starters, which meant Uzomah took pass routes away from Conklin. Jeremy Ruckert's anticipated role adds further unpredictability to the position.
Defense
Defensive end Carl Lawson continues to miss practice due to a back issue. While the veteran pass rusher needs more time to recover, Saleh said that the Jets aim for him to return to practice next week. Safety Ashtyn Davis, who was on the roster bubble coming into Saturday, might have saved his job with a team-leading three tackles for a loss. "You can count on Ashtyn to bring it every single day," Saleh said. "He's got a great attitude, it's important to him, he works at it. He's got great speed and athleticism. His special teams value is through the roof, too. I have a genuine appreciation for Ashtyn."
Offensive Line
In the absence of Duane Brown (PUP-shoulder), Alijah Vera-Tucker (ankle), and Laken Tomlinson (leg), the Jets' offensive line struggled in joint practices against the Buccaneers. While the guards are listed as day-to-day, there's been no sign of Brown all summer. Second-round rookie Joe Tippmann started at left guard in the game but also hurt his leg. Right tackle Mekhi Becton is making his case with the second team. Billy Turner and Max Mitchell might start Week 1 against Buffalo. The Jets' offensive line ranks 26th with limited time to get healthy and build cohesion before the season.
Updates from Week 2
Quarterbacks
The first episode of HBO’s Hard Knocks was a feel-good story revolving around Aaron Rodgers as New York’s franchise savior. But with the Jets offense facing an enemy defense for the first time in Wednesday’s practice, the tone was less optimistic. "I sensed frustration from everybody -- everybody on the O-line, Aaron, the coaches," center Connor McGovern said. "I think there was disappointment from the whole team." Rodgers acknowledged pass protection was a problem after the spotty practice. “I thought it was good to be out there against a different defense. I thought we handled the front pretty well in the run game. Pass game, there were some issues," Rodgers said. Fantasy managers should hope head coach Robert Saleh is correct when he says the offensive line can rebound from their slow start. According to ESPN Stats & Information data, over the past three years, Rodgers has the second-highest Total Quarterback Rating (QBR) on plays when the defense doesn't get a pass-rush win on a play, but his QBR drops to 28th when the defense has at least one win. Making his second consecutive preseason start, Zach Wilson was efficient during his two quarters of playing time in Saturday’s 27-0 win over Carolina. He went 14-of-20 passing for 123 yards and one touchdown. "I thought he was poised and ran the offense. We played a lot of the starters today on offense and thought he did a really nice job," said Saleh. The Jets waived Chris Streveler on Tuesday, locking Tim Boyle into No. 3 duties.
Running Backs
Dalvin Cook agreed to a one-year, $8.6 million contract on Monday. Cook reportedly isn’t quite ready to practice as he recovers from offseason shoulder surgery, but the Jets are obviously confident in his recovery since they offered him a contract that puts him among the Top 10 at the position. The team is adamant that adding Cook has nothing to do with Breece Hall’s recovery from last year’s ACL injury; Hall remains hopeful he’ll be ready for Week 1 and was activated off the PUP list on Tuesday. As has Rodgers, Cook has been a Pro Bowler in four of the last five seasons. It’s believed this is the first time in NFL history that a team acquired such a tandem in the same season. We have no idea whether Cook or Hall will be the lead back or if it’ll be a full-blown committee. It’s not purely about talent, as Rodgers will have a massive say in who he wants on the field. Presumably, Cook didn’t sign with New York without assurances that he would play a significant role. No matter how the touches are divided between Cook and Hall, the other backs on the roster lose relevance barring injuries. Michael Carter and Zonovan Knight may be competing for one roster spot now, with the other probably landing on another team’s roster because they won’t clear waivers. Or the Jets could look at trading one of them to a needy franchise. Carter started against the Panthers, but the Jets rotated between him and Knight roughly every three plays. Knight’s physical running style has made him the “best running back” in camp practices, but Carter was the better of the two on Saturday, rushing for 19 tough yards and hauling in a 25-yard pass from Wilson that set up the Jets' first score. "Michael, he feels like he's damn near back,” Saleh said. “I know he was frustrated from his second season, but one thing you can count on with him is to make the first guy miss and churn out those 4-, 5-, 6-yard runs.” Rookie Israel Abanikanda showed dazzling speed and moves on his 12 carries for 56 yards, including his 26-yard run in the second quarter that nearly resulted in a touchdown. But he’s almost assuredly headed for the practice squad.
Wide Receivers
Garrett Wilson returned from an ankle sprain Wednesday and ramped up to 11-on-11 participation Thursday. Rodgers targeted him four times, and they connected twice, including his first completion of the day. Wilson and Randall Cobb (ankle) were held out against the Panthers, leaving Allen Lazard, Corey Davis, and Mecole Hardman Jr. on top of the depth chart. Lazard and Davis generally played every snap, outside of taking a little time off near the end of a 13-play drive. Hardman’s snaps came mostly in three-receiver sets. After Wednesday’s spotty practice, Davis acknowledged that the patience and encouragement Rodgers has shown to the wide receiver group could begin to wear thin. "I could see that changing, yeah," Davis said. "He's been real patient, real lenient with us, and working with us and making sure we get everything down, which is what we need. But I could imagine it going the other way if it doesn't pick up." While much has been made of Lazard and Cobb coming over from Green Bay with Rodgers, another former Packers receiver, Malik Taylor, is climbing the depth chart. If the Jets keep six receivers, it’s between Taylor and Jason Brownlee for the final roster spot.
Tight Ends
Tyler Conklin was the tight end in clear passing situations against Carolina, but C.J. Uzomah also saw significant playing time. The two played together in two tight end sets, but on one-third of the plays with the starters, Uzomah was the solo tight end. If you’re drafting Conklin in hopes he emerges as a fantasy starter, it will likely depend on his red zone involvement because the top three tight ends - Conklin, Uzomah, and Jeremy Ruckert - all look like they’re going to have a role on offense this season. “All three of us can do anything,” Uzomah said Sunday. “We’re all sneaky fast. The playbook is wide open for all of us, and we can really exploit defenses.”
Defense
The Jets showed off the depth of their defensive front in a dominant performance against the Panthers. "Our D-line got after them early, and, really for all four quarters, made it hard for them to operate from play to play," said Saleh. Linebacker Jermaine Johnson and first-round rookie defensive end Will McDonald accounted for two quarterback hurries apiece. McDonald, Quinton Jefferson, Bruce Hector, and Deslin Alexandre all recorded solo sacks on Saturday, while Johnson and Bryce Huff met at the quarterback for a shared takedown. Considering All-Pro defensive tackle Quinnen Williams and veteran edge rushers Carl Lawson and John Franklin-Myers were held out, the Jets’ defensive line is poised to give opposing quarterbacks fits this season. Star cornerback Sauce Gardner missed time with a quadriceps injury this week, but it isn’t believed to be serious.
Returners
After losing Braxton Berrios in free agency, the team signed former Chiefs receiver Mecole Hardman to help bolster the return unit. Hardman has been inconsistent as a returner over his career, but he has plenty of experience.
Updates from Week 1
Quarterbacks
Aaron Rodgers has agreed to a reworked contract that will save the Jets approximately $35 million guaranteed. The cap hit will be spread over five years, making it likely that he'll continue to play with the team beyond this season. In an interview with NBC Sports, Rodgers stated that he felt it was the right thing to do. "What it comes down to, it was the right thing that made me feel best," Rodgers told Peter King. "Big names move at the trade deadline now. I wanted to make sure that if somebody valuable came available that we’d be able to get him. I’m very happy with the contract." On the field, Rodgers' command of the offense has been described as "hit and miss," which is to be expected as the group learns a new scheme with a new quarterback. Rodgers hobbled off the field during Saturday's practice after getting stepped on, but he was able to return and appears to be fine. Former No. 2 overall draft pick, Zach Wilson, is now the backup to Rodgers. Wilson has looked solid in practice. He said Rodgers called the play on his 57-yard completion to wide receiver Malik Taylor in Thursday's Hall of Fame game. "Great call by Aaron Rodgers," Wilson said, smiling. "I have to give him a shout-out there."
Running Backs
Breece Hall missed the final 10 games of his rookie season with a torn ACL. Both Hall and head coach Robert Saleh have expressed optimism for a Week 1 return. However, Hall remains on the list and has been limited to side work during practices. New York's flirtation with free agent Dalvin Cook casts doubt on Hall's recovery timeline. Cook met with the Jets last weekend, and while indications are his visit "went well," he left New Jersey without a contract. According to ESPN reporter Dianna Russini, Cook and the Jets are at odds over his potential role. Russini told Pat McAfee, "[Cook] wants to be the featured back. So, I’m not sure if both sides are really on the same page." But MMQB's Albert Breer still thinks the Jets are Cook's preferred destination. "I think Dalvin wants to be in New York," Breer told Rich Eisen on Saturday. "He went there with the idea that there’s a really good chance he’s going to play for the Jets this year." While we wait to see if the Jets add Cook, Michael Carter, Zonovan Knight, and rookie Israel Abanikanda are battling for carries behind Hall. Carter and Knight have shared reps with the first team. Knight has made the most of his opportunities, with multiple explosive runs and an impressive red zone drill last week. Abanikanda got the start on Thursday with the team resting Carter and Knight. He flashed his speed on a 10-yard touchdown run but is unlikely to challenge for much regular season playtime.
Wide Receivers
Garrett Wilson has been out since last Friday with a low ankle sprain. But Saleh said Wilson “looked awesome” running pass routes on the side last week and is expected to return Tuesday. Before the injury, Wilson was having an excellent camp, with Rodgers going as far as to say, “Look, I love Davante, and I saw him this summer. He is in a category all by himself still. But, that 17 [Adams] reminds me of the other 17 [Wilson] as far as his ability to get in and out of breaks and his quick twitch at the line of scrimmage.” Allen Lazard, who projects as the No. 2 receiver, has provided value beyond his on-field production, acting as a sort of “Rodgers translator” to the rest of the wide receivers. “Sometimes when something new is being presented, it can sound like a foreign language,” Saleh said. “So having another voice who knows from a receiver standpoint [helps].” The Jets other major free-agent wide receiver acquisition, Mecole Hardman, has flashed improved route running in addition to his game-breaking speed. Saleh said the Jets believe Hardman has untapped ability on intermediate routes. “When he has the ball in his hands, it’s elite. But the thing we’re committed to is helping him evolve his route running and get him away from just being a high-cross guy and a go-ball guy,” Saleh said. “He’s off to a good start”. Veterans Randall Cobb and Corey Davis are competing for the No. 4 role, along with undrafted rookie Jason Brownlee, who has been the “undrafted rookie free agent MVP of training camp so far”.
Tight Ends
The Athletic’s Zach Rosenblatt notes that besides Wilson, Tyler Conklin is the pass-catcher who has the best connection with Rodgers. Conklin himself said the offense’s emphasis on running outside zone should open up ample play-action opportunities for him and the other tight ends. “I love the way these coaches teach this offense.” Conklin said. “And [Rodgers] is just so smart. He makes everyone around him so much better because of his experiences and what he’s been through.” Coming off an impressive showing at OTAs, Jeremy Ruckert has been a mainstay in Jets’ training camp highlights. "I'm definitely more comfortable this year," Ruckert said. "I've been through it the whole year, the game is slowing down, and I have a lot of room to improve. Being here for a year, things are making a lot more sense. I'm trying to use that going into the season and keep my confidence." Ruckert may be able to leapfrog C.J. Uzomah on the depth chart. Uzomah dealt with a quadriceps injury when camp opened but is now back at practice.
Defense
Safety Tony Adams is making his case for a starting job. "The cat is coming out the bag a little bit, but Tony has an unbelievable mental makeup," Saleh said. "Does everything we ask of him and his effort, strain communication, football IQ, all of it is pretty damn good." At least one beat reporter likes Adams to beat out Adrian Amos, which was not expected before camp started. Saleh said the Jets' plan for first-round defensive end Will McDonald IV in his first season is to take things slow and allow him to learn. New York has one of the deepest defensive lines in the game, so they can afford to bring McDonald along slowly, especially with fellow defensive end Jermaine Johnson having a strong camp. Johnson has reportedly been dominant through eight practices. On Saturday, the Jets signed linebackers Nick Vigil and Sam Eguavoen to contracts.
