The breakout candidates and potential worries emerging at Jets camp

We at the moment are deep into coaching camp, and roster selections will are available two weeks with the season commencing slightly below two weeks after that.

We’ve got now seen nearly 4 weeks of camp practices and two preseason video games.

In different phrases, we’ve seen sufficient to start out drawing conclusions concerning the 2023 Jets.

Let’s go place by place with some ideas on what we’ve seen in camp:

Quarterbacks

Aaron Rodgers has been as marketed on the sector and higher than marketed off of it.

You don’t want me so as to add a lot right here. It has been well-documented how beloved he’s by the group and his teammates. What has been wonderful is to observe a few of the throws he makes in follow. I’ve by no means coated anybody as gifted as him at quarterback. The throw he made Thursday in South Carolina, rolling left and hitting Malik Taylor on the sideline was one of the crucial insane throws I’ve ever seen in individual. The Jets have cause to be enthusiastic about what Rodgers can do that 12 months.

Zach Wilson has had a lot of good days with just a few unhealthy ones blended in. I see a distinction in his decision-making and in his footwork. He appears to be like extra assured. Within the few interactions he has had with the media, Wilson appears comfy together with his new actuality. He sounds assured once more, however you may inform the final 12 months has humbled him.

One different level I’d make on Wilson: Everybody desires to credit score Rodgers with any positives Wilson does, and I don’t suppose that’s honest to him.

Wilson has proven lots of maturity in how he has dealt with his demotion and clearly is working exhausting. He deserves credit score for that. It isn’t like Rodgers has a magic wand. Wilson has to take what Rodgers and the coaches say and work at it.

Operating backs

Properly, the Jets added Dalvin Cook to this group this week and we’ll need to see what sort of position he has.

I did not think signing Cook was a need for the Jets. I see it as a luxurious, and I feel they’d have been higher off saving their cash in case a participant turns into accessible at a place of better want (suppose: offensive line).

He’s nonetheless recovering from a shoulder harm and his manufacturing has declined in every of the final two years. My feeling is the manufacturing gained’t match the hype, however we’ll see.

I’ve no cause to imagine the Jets are mendacity about Breece Corridor being prepared for the season. He has appeared good after I’ve seen him working on a facet area. I might count on him to be on the follow area quickly.

Even when Corridor will not be prepared to hold the load in the beginning of the season, I feel the mixture of Michael Carter, Zonovan Knight and Israel Abanikanda could be productive. You noticed flashes of this within the preseason recreation with the Panthers. Carter appears to be like rejuvenated. Knight has had a pleasant camp.

Tight ends

This group has not gotten talked about sufficient. The tight ends may very well be a significant factor this season in Nathaniel Hackett’s offense.

We all know Rodgers likes to go to the tight finish, and that has been evident in camp. C.J. Uzomah, Tyler Conklin and Jeremy Ruckert every have had days in camp after they have been focused. It has been too lengthy because the Jets used the tight ends of their offense aggressively. I feel that can change this 12 months.

On the backside of the roster, the battle between Kenny Yeboah and Zack Kuntz is one to observe. Yeboah is an effective special-teams participant, which may assist him. However the Jets not often lower draft picks, so Kuntz may get the fourth tight finish spot.

Huge receivers

It has been exhausting to get an actual really feel for this group as a result of there have been accidents inflicting guys to return out and in of follow and there are lots of veterans who haven’t gotten a lot time within the preseason video games.

Garrett Wilson is primed to have a monster season. Even with lacking per week due to an ankle injury, he has been spectacular. He and Rodgers have already got chemistry.

Past Wilson, I’m undecided what to anticipate from Allen Lazard, Randall Cobb, Corey Davis and Mecole Hardman. All of them are skilled, some with Rodgers, however none of them excite me. Once more, it’s exhausting to get a learn on this in camp. Lazard, Cobb and Davis have missed practices due to accidents, and it’s troublesome to get a transparent image of how they are going to be used with the heavy rotation in follow.

On the backside of the roster, it feels as whether it is Jason Brownlee versus Taylor for the sixth receiver spot. I give Taylor the sting due to his expertise and special-teams abilities.

Offensive line

You might have heard that this is an area of concern. I don’t suppose everybody ought to panic but, however there’s positively cause to fret. The deal with spots are big query marks nonetheless.

Duane Brown is anticipated again quickly after sitting out all of camp following shoulder surgical procedure. If he isn’t on the sector subsequent week, then it’s time to sound the alarm. You need him to get just a few weeks to follow and shake off the rust. I nonetheless imagine he would be the beginning left deal with.

The suitable deal with spot has been a battle between Billy Turner and Max Mitchell. Neither has seized the job. Mitchell looks as if he is struggling with confidence. Can Mekhi Becton take this job? His ceiling is certainly increased than Turner’s or Mitchell’s, however he has been working completely at left deal with in camp, so I’m undecided the Jets need to flip him to the opposite facet. He additionally has to show to the coaches he can play a full recreation. They want him to maintain constructing his rep depend. Saturday’s recreation with the Panthers (27 snaps) was a optimistic.

Inside, the one query is whether or not Alijah Vera-Tucker should be moved to tackle. If he’s, I count on Wes Schweitzer to be the fitting guard.

Connor McGovern has a grip on the beginning middle job. Rookie Joe Tippmann has completed good issues, however I feel McGovern would be the starter.

Defensive position

This is the best unit on the team. There may be top-end expertise in Quinnen Williams and depth for days. Jermaine Johnson appears to be like able to take an enormous step in 12 months 2, and first-round choose Will McDonald has been spectacular.

I do know there’s some chatter about whether or not the Jets ought to commerce Bryce Huff. I don’t get the impression the Jets are excited by giving up any of their depth on the road.

I’m curious how Carl Lawson matches into all of this. He’s at present sidelined resulting from again tightness. He has been the lead defensive finish since he signed his large contract in 2021, however I ponder if Johnson pushes previous him by way of snaps. It feels as if Johnson is able to bust out, and the coaches sense that. Does he take over because the No. 1 defensive finish?

Linebackers

It appears to be like as if Jamien Sherwood would be the No. 3 linebacker subsequent to C.J. Mosley and Quincy Williams. Sherwood has been getting essentially the most reps all by camp and has completed nothing to lose the job.

Chazz Surratt obtained some love in “Arduous Knocks,” however has been out with a hamstring harm because the Corridor of Fame Recreation, so he isn’t serving to his trigger to win a roster spot.

Rookie Zaire Barnes is quick and might ship some hits. He will likely be an attention-grabbing developmental man to observe. My guess is he has a serious special-teams position this 12 months after which is groomed to have an even bigger position on protection in 2024.

Cornerbacks

There aren’t any questions on the high of the depth chart. Sauce Garnder, D.J. Reed and Michael Carter II all look able to construct on their sturdy 2022 seasons.

Past that, it will get slightly murky. Brandin Echols has completed some good issues in camp, however he’s suspended for Week 1, so the Jets are going to want to search out extra depth on the place. Bryce Corridor has been injured and out for greater than per week now, and I feel his maintain on a roster spot is tenuous after having three years to point out what he can do.

Jimmy Moreland is a participant I prefer to sneak onto the roster. He makes performs persistently in follow and has some expertise. Javelin Guidry is one other participant I can see making the group due to his special-teams skill. He may very well be the backup at slot nook.

Safeties

Tony Adams is now not a secret. He would be the group’s beginning free security subsequent to Jordan Whitehead. Adrian Amos would be the third security. After that, I feel Ashtyn Davis and Trey Dean are combating for a roster spot.

Particular groups

That is the primary summer season in ages the place the Jets haven’t had questions concerning the kicking recreation. Greg Zuerlein has been nice in camp and the preseason. Thomas Morstead appears to be like like he will likely be an enormous step up at punter from Braden Mann. The Jets by no means ought to have lower him in 2021.

I feel Hardman will find yourself because the kick/punt returner, however they’re rotating a number of guys again there proper now.

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Want to catch a game? The Jets schedule with links to buy tickets can be found here.

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Stat’s so

The Jets open the season in slightly below a month after they face the Payments on Sept. 11 in one of the crucial anticipated video games in Jets historical past.

The sport is on “Monday Evening Soccer.” The Jets haven’t gained on Monday evening since Week 1 of 2018, shedding three straight. However new quarterback Aaron Rodgers has thrived on Monday evening. He has gained his previous 9 video games on Monday evening with the Packers. Here’s a have a look at these video games:

Dec. 19, 2022, vs. Rams (W, 24-12)
22-30, 229 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT

Sept. 20, 2021, vs. Lions (W, 35-17)
22-27, 255 yards, 4 TDs, 0 INTs

Oct. 5, 2020, vs. Falcons (W, 30-16)
27-33, 327 yards, 4 TDs, 0 INTs

Dec. 23, 2019, at Vikings (W, 23-10)
26-40, 216 yards, 0 TDs, 1 INT

Oct. 14, 2019, vs. Lions (W, 23-22)
24-39, 283 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT

Oct. 15, 2018, vs. 49ers (W, 33-30)
25-46, 425 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INTs

Nov. 28, 2016, at Eagles (W, 27-13)
30-39, 313 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INTs

Sept. 28, 2015, vs. Chiefs (W, 38-28)
24-35, 333 yards, 5 TDs, 0 INTs

Dec. 8, 2014, vs. Falcons (W, 43-37)
24-36, 327 yards, 3 TDs, 0 INTs

Supply: Stathead