Category: New York Jets preseason

Andrew Peasley and Adrian Martinez won’t make the 53-man roster

Here’s why New York Jets GM Joe Douglas couldn’t commit to Andrew Peasley and Adrian Martinez.

Through three weeks of NFL preseason, quarterbacks Andrew Peasley and Adrian Martinez gave it everything they had. Still, New York Jets’ general manager Joe Douglas could not commit to their talents as essential to the 2024 mission.

Fate only came to fruition for Martinez and Peasley yesterday. Veteran quarterback Tyrod Taylor was always destined to secure the No. 2 slot on the quarterback depth chart and rookie Jordan Travis was only non-participatory because of injury.

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by New York Jets (@nyjets)



The Jets simply could not afford to fumble off such tremendous talent on the defensive side of the football so Peasley & Martinez caught the bad end of the sleight.

Peasley & Martinez finished the 2024 preseason with 1 touchdown pass on 80 combined pass attempts.

Will Haason Reddick play for the Jets this year? Will he make an impact?

What impact will Haason Reddick make for the Jets this year?

Damien Woody believes that Haason Reddick can help the New York Jets this season. The ESPN analyst said this despite Reddick’s current holdout that has lasted the entirety of training camp and preseason.

A former Jets player, Woody said on ESPN on Monday that he believes Reddick will play this year (he has to at some point, right?) and can potentially make an impact in the NFL. Woody’s comments were made on the ESPN morning show ‘Get Up.’

Earlier this offseason, the Jets acquired Reddick in a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles. They made the trade, knowing full well that Reddick was in the final year of his contract and looking for a new deal.

One of the top edge rushers in the NFL, Reddick has four consecutive seasons of double-digit sacks. He can surely help a very strong Jets defense if  (and when) he steps on the field.

“I think he can,” Woody said on ESPN when asked if Reddick can make an impact for the Jets this year despite the holdout.

“He has to report at some point. If you want to get a new deal, you’re going to have to play this season at some point…to accrue the year to get to free agency.

“If and when he shows up, he’s too good of a player not to have some type of an impact on this Jets season down the road. Now, right out of the gate, I don’t see it happening.”

Last year, Reddick had 11 sacks and 29 total tackles. In seven NFL seasons, Reddick has twice been named to the Pro Bowl.

NFL Network analyst Brian Baldinger sees big upside in Jets rookie Leonard Taylor III

Leonard Taylor gets praise from NFL Network analyst Brian Baldinger.

NFL Network analyst Brian Baldinger is liking what he is seeing from New York Jets defensive tackle Leonard Taylor III. The rookie looked good on Saturday night in the preseason finale against the New York Giants.

Taylor was an undrafted rookie free agent signing by the Jets. Last year in 10 starts at Miami, Taylor had 19 total tackles with 3.5 tackles for a loss and a sack.

In his last collegiate game, at No. 4 Florida State, he had four total tackles, a season-high output.

Against the Giants over the weekend, Taylor had four total tackles and 1.5 sacks. It was this performance that led Baldinger, a popular NFL Network analyst and a former offensive lineman, to praise the Jets rookie.

Baldinger started his analysis by saying that the “pass rush of the Jets against the Giants was fierce.” Then Jets All-Pro Quinnen Williams was brought up in the comparison.

“He was good, he was really good,” Baldinger said.

“His ability – he plays the same position as Quinnen does. And he plays in the same stance, can tell he watches him a lot.”

 

[lawrence-related id=695867,695864,695861]

In 2022 as a junior, Taylor was an honorable mention All-ACC selection.

X going to give it to you! New York Giants’ Aaron Wellman took a sideline hit from a Jets player

A Jets running back rolled right over a Giants coaching staff member on Saturday.

New York Jets running back Xazavian Valladay delivered an inadvertent hit on Saturday to a member of the New York Giants coaching staff.

Aaron Wellman didn’t quite get run over by Valladay, but he did take a pretty serious hit. And perhaps most impressively, Wellman bounced off the turf at MetLife Stadium, doing so with a smile.

Wellman is the Giants’ executive director of player performance.

Valladay took a slant from quarterback Andrew Peasley for 17 yards and a Jets first down, getting knocked out of bounds where he collided with Wellman. The Giants staffer went head over heels before making like Teflon and bouncing up.

“I saw that this morning. [director of coaching operations] ‘LY’ (Laura Young) showed it to me and that was a pretty big hit,” Giants head coach Brian Daboll told reporters on Sunday.

“So one, he’s tough. He got right back up. And two, the clip that she showed me… He’s not a big smile guy. He’s pretty serious. I think that’s the biggest smile I’ve ever seen him have since I’ve met him.”

First off, a nice catch-and-run by Valladay, who finished the preseason finale with six catches for 62 yards.

 

Valladay made one appearance for the Jets last year. So far in preseason, he has 25 rushing attempts for 45 yards.

Robert Saleh believes Javon Kinlaw could be poised ‘to do something special’ with the Jets

Robert Saleh believes in Javon Kinlaw’s potential impact with the Jets.

Javon Kinlaw has made it through training camp and preseason healthy in what is a potentially huge development for the New York Jets.

Signed by the Jets this offseason as a free agent, the 6-foot-5, 319-pound Kinlaw had 25 total tackles and a career-high 3.5 sacks in 2023 in 17 games with the San Francisco 49ers. He was a first round pick out of South Carolina in the 2020 NFL draft.

This is a potential bounceback season for Kinlaw, who ended each of the 2021 and 2022 seasons on Injured Reserve. He played in every game last year for the 49ers, but piecing together consecutive seasons of regular snaps would be huge for his career.

For head coach Robert Saleh, this has been a good offseason for Kinlaw.

“Knock on wood for him, he’s felt good all of camp,” Saleh told reporters on Saturday.

“He’s taken every single rep. He feels like he’s in a really good place both physically and mentally. And because of the fact that he’s been able to take all these reps, we’ve been able to help him really hone in on his game. When you’re in and out of the lineup, you’re just playing, you’re not locking into a technique or anything. To his credit, he’s found a way to get himself healthy and he’s bought into everything that we preach on the d-line with regards to technique and all that stuff. Really looking forward to seeing what he does this year. I think he has a chance to do something special for himself.”

[lawrence-related id=695861,695841]

As a rookie in 2020, Kinlaw had 33 total tackles and 1.5 sacks (as well as an interception) in 14 games. Similar production alongside Pro Bowl defensive tackle Quinnen Williams would be huge for the Jets.

‘McKinleys ain’t no quitters!’ – Takkarist McKinley has a strong showing in the Jets preseason finale

Takk McKinley takes a big step forward to making the Jets roster.

Don’t call it a statement game for Takkarist McKinley, even though Saturday’s preseason win was just that for the New York Jets defensive lineman.

McKinley had four total tackles and 2.5 sacks for the Jets in a 10-6 win over the New York Giants.

A first round pick of the Atlanta Falcons in the 2017 NFL draft, McKinley has been through quite the ringer in terms of injuries, including a torn Achilles in 2021. He now has seven total tackles in three preseason games, fully looking the part for the Jets in the absence of Haason Reddick.

And with a strong final preseason game, McKinley has put a bow on a training camp and preseason that impressed head coach Robert Saleh.

“I think he’s helped himself – I don’t think this game really…I think he helped himself with regard to everyone noticing, but it’s not nothing that we haven’t noticed already,” Saleh told reporters after the game.

“He’s had an awesome training camp and he’s one of those guys that we’re going to have to make decisions on. It’s a really good d-line group and it’s good to have guys like him who can rush the passer.”

With Reddick holding out for a new contract, McKinley and second-year edge Will McDonald have seemingly taken advantage of the extra reps.

[lawrence-related id=695841,695834,695829]

Only once in his seven NFL seasons has McKinley played a full schedule (that was in 2017 as a rookie with the Falcons where he had 20 total tackles and six sacks). He last played in 2022 with the Los Angeles Rams, appearing in just four games.

Last spring, he signed with the Dallas Cowboys but was cut in June.

“I think for me just my faith and just the people that believe in me. Knowing I didn’t have a mom or dad growing up, I was raised by my grandma and my auntie and they could have easily given up on me but they didn’t give up on me,” McKinley said during an in-game interview.

“So, for me it was like I can’t give up on myself. Like I’m speechless right now, but I’m just grateful to be in front of you guys and just have the interview. McKinleys ain’t no quitters man, I got two kids and they look up to me. I’d be quitting on them if I quit on myself.”

 

After a more ‘normal camp,’ New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh sees a like-minded group

Robert Saleh has a sense of normalcy around this training camp for the Jets.

The distractions surrounding the New York Jets a season ago has now given way to a team that head coach Robert Saleh believes is focused.

Given the buzz around the arrival of Aaron Rodgers a season ago, this has been a relatively calm training camp and preseason for the Jets, all things considered.

For Saleh, ahead of the final game of preseason on Saturday, this camp has seen the team come together. Given all the buzz around Rodgers (will he play in preseason? Won’t he play? Pyramids?) and Haason Reddick’s holdout, this has been a relatively calm situation for the Jets.

In many ways, it is a stark contrast from a season ago.

“It’s felt like a normal camp. Last year wasn’t normal,” Saleh told reporters on Thursday.

“I’ve really appreciated the way our guys have about their business. I’ve said it before, I love the way our o-line’s coming together, and I’m not just talking about their play style, I’m just talking about they actually like being around each other. I’ve always said it with the defense, the defense likes being around each other. The offense, you see certain position groups, I think they’re actually starting to enjoy being around one another because there’s a lot of like minds, and I’ve liked the way they’ve come together, the way they root for one and other, the way they play for one and other, the way they communicate with one and other, it’s turning into a pretty cool group.”

[lawrence-related id=695838,695829,695816,695813]

The Jets play the Giants on Saturday at MetLife Stadium. They open the NFL regular season in Week 1 at the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football.

Aaron Rodgers will help the New York Jets convert on third-down this season

With QB Aaron Rodgers healthy, the New York Jets are unlikely to rank No. 32 in third-down conversion rate like they did in 2023.

The New York Jets ranked No. 32 in the NFL on third-down in 2023. Surely, the return of quarterback Aaron Rodgers will bring some resolve to their offensive struggles.

The Jets’ defense spent the most time of any NFL team on the field last season and somehow, they still gave up the fewest pass yards per game.

Just imagine how prolific the defense has the potential to be if Rodgers can sustain offensive drives and get them rest this upcoming season.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C-8raunPTJq/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

With a quality run-game developing, Rodgers won’t have to throw for 30-35 pass attempts every game. Instead his strengths will work as an asset in a balanced offensive attack.

Offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett will likely preserve Rodgers, using his accuracy as an advantage in the quick pass game. Not that this is some newly found plan, Rodgers was simply injured last season.

If the Jets can keep themselves in short-yardage situations on offense, they could potentially lead the NFL in both total first downs and time of possession this upcoming season.

Robert Saleh explains why Aaron Rodgers won’t play for the Jets on Sunday

New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers won’t play in preseason.

Aaron Rodgers is a healthy scratch for Saturday’s preseason game. The New York Jets quarterback will not have played in any games this preseason.

It certainly isn’t the end of the world for the Jets or Rodgers, who suffered a season-ending Achilles injury last year in Week 1.

Rodgers has had a heavy workload in training camp and participated in all three training camp joint practices. This includes Wednesday’s joint session with the New York Giants where his performance created the buzz among Jets fans.

And while opinions differ on if Rodgers should play in preseason, Jets head coach Robert Saleh thinks his future Hall of Fame quarterback will be ready for Week 1 at the San Francisco 49ers.

“Different reasons last year, as compared to this year. I’m not going to get into those,” Saleh told reporters on Thursday.

“I feel like we’ve gotten so much good work with three quality opponents over the course of three weeks, last year we didn’t scrimmage with the Giants, this year we’ve had three different scrimmages, and I feel like the
work we’ve gotten in has been very productive.”

In terms of where Rodgers is at physically, Saleh said the Jets star is in a good spot.

[lawrence-related id=695834,695829,695816]

“I mentioned it yesterday, he’s got plenty of mobility. He showed it in Carolina. He’s been showing it in practice. It was really cool for him to do it again,” Saleh said.

“There was obviously a couple of off-schedule throws that he made. You can tell that he’s gaining more and more confidence in it because he’s not afraid to run and leave the pocket. He’s been doing it if you guys notice during our routes on air, during individual and group install, he manufactures off-schedule plays, just to make sure that, one; the guys are on their P’s and Q’s, and him, he’s getting his work in, so the mobility’s there. He’s got plenty of mobility to create off-schedule.”

Robert Saleh praises Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers as ‘freaky, freaky, freaky’

Robert Saleh thinks Malik Nabers is a special player.

Malik Nabers has impressed New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh. The New York Giants rookie looks like he will be the franchise’s next great wide receiver.

This past April, the Giants took Nabers as their first round pick. He is coming off a junior season at LSU where he had 86 catches for 1,546 receiving yards with 14 touchdowns.

So far in limited preseason reps, Nabers has four catches for 54 yards.

Saleh, in speaking to the media on Wednesday ahead of the Jets joint practice with the Giants, praised Nabers. His comments were made prior to the joint practice.

“Dynamic, elite competitor, freaky, freaky, freaky,” Saleh told reporters.

“You could argue that he could have been the No. 1 receiver, but he’s a very special talent, special mindset, and the Giants definitely got a really good one.”

[lawrence-related id=695829,695816,695813]

Nabers was the second wide receiver taken in the NFL draft, following the selection of Marvin Harrison Jr. by the Arizona Cardinals. Harrison, a former Ohio State standout, was the fourth player taken in the draft.