Tag: Jets Rookie Minicamp

Jets announce jersey numbers for 2023 draft picks

Jersey numbers!

The moment many of you had been waiting for finally happened. Jersey numbers have been revealed for the 2023 draft picks for the New York Jets.

Edge Will McDonald will wear No. 99, worn last year by Vinny Curry. Center Joe Tippmann is taking Laurent Duvernay-Tardif’s No. 66 while offensive tackle Carter Warren will wear Dan Feeney’s 67.

Running back Israel Abanikanda is taking No. 25, recently made available with the release of Ty Johnson. Linebacker Zaire Barnes gets No. 53, worn by linebacker DQ Thomas last summer. Lamarcus Joyner’s former No. 29 now belongs to defensive back Jarrick Bernard-Converse and tight end Zack Kuntz will wear No. 81, worn a bit last year by tight end Lawrence Cager.

7 takeaways from Robert Saleh’s rookie minicamp press conference

Jets HC Robert Saleh discussed expectations for Gang Green’s neophytes at rookie minicamp on Friday:

Friday marked the beginning of a new chapter of Jets football, as the 2022 NFL draft class took the field in Florham Park for the first time for the beginning of rookie minicamp.

New York’s prized rookies — as well as undrafted free agents and tryout players — got to work for Robert Saleh and his coaching staff. Friday wasn’t exactly a day of action at One Jets Drive, but Gang Green’s second-year head coach still learned plenty about his neophytes and also those vying for a spot on the 90-man roster.

Here are the highlights from Saleh’s rookie minicamp press conference.

WATCH: Robert Saleh forgot he was the Jets’ head coach for a second

Robert Saleh had his first “welcome to being an NFL head coach” moment during the Jets’ rookie minicamp on Friday.

It did not take long for Robert Saleh to have his first “welcome to being an NFL head coach” moment.

The Jets hosted their first rookie minicamp of the offseason Friday, Saleh’s first as a head coach after being hired in January. Once the final horn sounded on Friday’s practice session, New York’s 2021 draft class and 12 undrafted free agents waited for their head coach to address them and wrap up the day.

But Saleh was channeling his inner defensive coordinator and waiting for the head coach to take center stage, just as he has throughout his entire coaching career. It took him a second to remember that it was his turn to take on that role.

This likely won’t be the last “oh shoot” moment Saleh has in his first offseason leading the Jets. Adjusting to life as a head coach in the NFL is not easy and Saleh has a lot to learn on the fly in his first year at the helm.

Friday was just the start of Saleh’s new responsibilities. At least he can take a step back and make fun of his own gaffe, though. That was not exactly in his predecessor’s playbook.

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Jets host 5 players for tryouts during rookie minicamp

The Jets hosted five players for a tryout during their rookie minicamp session at One Jets Drive on Friday afternoon.

New York’s 2021 draft class and its crop of 12 undrafted free agents were not the only players being evaluated at One Jets Drive on Friday afternoon.

The Jets hosted wide receivers Trevor Davis, Steven Mitchell and Damion Willis, tight end Daniel Crawford and defensive lineman Mustafa Johnson during their first rookie minicamp of the offseason. Davis, Mitchell and Willis have previous NFL experience, while Crawford and Johnson are rookies.

A fifth-round pick out of the University of California by the Packers in 2016, Davis has bounced around the NFL throughout his six-year career. Davis caught nine passes for 122 yards and a touchdown in four seasons with Green Bay before catching on with the Raiders in 2019. Davis posted career-highs in single-season receptions (seven) and single-season receiving yards (83) in his lone season with the Raiders and signed with the Bears as a free agent in 2020. However, he did not make Chicago’s 53-man roster out of training camp and was released in August. Davis then signed with the Washington Football Team’s practice squad in October and a reserve/futures contract with Washington in January. He was released after the 2021 NFL draft.

Mitchell spent the 2018 offseason with the Rams before landing in Houston, where he bounced back and forth between the practice squad from 2018-20. In three seasons with the Texans, Mitchell caught seven passes for 97 yards. Willis, meanwhile, worked his way to a temporary spot at the top of the Bengals’ wide receiver depth chart in 2019 in place of an injured A.J. Green. The former undrafted free agent out of Troy lasted just one season with Cincinnati, though, and split 2020 between the Browns and Jaguars. In two NFL seasons, Willis has caught nine passes for 82 yards.

Crawford caught 21 passes for 183 yards and a touchdown at Northern Illinois last season, while Johnson totaled 20 tackles and three sacks for the University of Colorado in 2020.