Jets, Zach Wilson keep it conservative in second preseason game against Panthers

CHARLOTTE — Zach Wilson started his Jets profession right here two years in the past, making his first NFL begin in opposition to the Panthers.

On Saturday, he returned for the subsequent step of attempting to get his profession again on observe.

Wilson performed the complete first half of the Jets’ preseason recreation with the Panthers, overseeing six sequence.

He didn’t have any spectacular throws on this one, but in addition didn’t have any large blunders.

Wilson accomplished 14-of-20 passes for 123 yards and a landing.

Wilson threw the ball largely to operating backs and tight ends.

Solely two of his 14 completions had been to vast receivers.

His landing was a 2-yard toss to tight finish Kenny Yeboah, who was vast open.

The rating was arrange by a 27-yard run by rookie Israel Abanikanda.

It was one other optimistic step for Wilson, who’s studying to be a backup behind Aaron Rodgers.

The Jets put collectively a 13-play drive to begin the sport, however needed to accept a 47-yard subject aim from Greg Zuerlein after a penalty stalled the drive.

Wilson seemed tremendous on the drive. He accomplished 4-of-6 passes on the drive for 40 yards.

He threw largely brief passes.

He did take one shot into the tip zone from the 23 to Mecole Hardman however the go was damaged up.

Jets heart Connor McGovern was penalized for tripping on the play and that killed the drive.

On third-and-17, Wilson threw an incompletion to Tyler Conklin.

He took an additional hitch and misfired on the throw.

The second drive featured operating backs Michael Carter and Zonovan Knight.

The drive stopped after Wilson sailed a brief go excessive to Knight on third-and-2 and the ball went off Knight’s outstretched palms.

The Jets took out their beginning offensive line, tight ends, operating backs and vast receivers on their third sequence however left Wilson in. You could possibly see the backups on the road struggling.

Wilson was underneath strain on a primary down incompletion to Malik Taylor after which was sacked on third down when exterior linebacker Amare Barno cut up the left facet of the Jets line of deal with Mekhi Becton and guard Trystan Colon.

A holding penalty killed the Jets’ subsequent drive.

Wilson discovered Abanikanda for a protracted 25-yard acquire on a display go on the fifth drive. He additionally had a pleasant 15-yard acquire to tight finish Jeremy Ruckert on a rollout.

The safety was not nice on third down, although and he had an incompletion supposed for Jason Brownlee to finish the drive.

Zuerlein kicked one other subject aim to place the Jets up 6-0.

The Jets performed extra offensive starters and anticipated contributors on this recreation than the preseason opener against the Browns in the Hall of Fame Game.

The one offensive starters who didn’t play had been quarterback Aaron Rodgers, vast receiver Garrett Wilson, vast receiver Randall Cobb and guard Alijah Vera-Tucker.

The Jets backup protection carried out properly in opposition to the Panthers beginning offense.

The Panthers began rookie quarterback Bryce Younger, the No. 1 total decide on this 12 months’s draft.

He was unable to get something going, finishing 4-of-6 passing for 21 yards.

It was an fascinating choice by Jets coach Robert Saleh to play many of the gamers both anticipated to begin on the offensive line or preventing for beginning spots.

Vera-Tucker was the one wholesome offensive lineman not enjoying.

Saleh could have wished to get the group extra work after a tricky observe in opposition to the Panthers on Wednesday that noticed the road quit a whole lot of strain.

Billy Turner began at left deal with and Max Mitchell began at proper deal with.

Wes Schweitzer began rather than Vera-Tucker and might be the candidate to begin at proper guard if the Jets kick Vera-Tucker out to deal with.

The Jets additionally performed Carter and Knight who’re preventing for the No. 2 operating again spot behind Breece Corridor and attempting to persuade Jets administration they don’t want so as to add Dalvin Prepare dinner.

Carter had 4 rushes for 19 yards and two catches for 34 yards. Knight had 4 rushes for 13 yards and one catch for 3 yards.

The Jets now return to New Jersey the place they’ll have joint practices with the Buccaneers this week earlier than enjoying Tampa Bay at MetLife Stadium on Saturday.