6 position battles to watch as Jets enter training camp

The Jets have a lot of things to figure out this summer.

General manager Joe Douglas spent the offseason improving New York’s roster, but there is still plenty of uncertainty surrounding who is starting at multiple positions on both sides of the ball. Fortunately for the Jets, training camp is the ideal time for position battles to unfold and for starting jobs to be won.

So, which starting gigs are up for grabs? Here are six Jets fans should keep an eye on.

No. 2 Wide Receiver

Jamison Crowder is entrenched as a starter in the slot and speed demon Breshad Perriman is a lock to start on the outside. That leaves the No. 2 spot on New York’s depth chart open for the taking.

Quincy Enunwa and Denzel Mims were set to battle for the job until a neck injury put Enunwa out for the season. Mims now has a major inside track at beginning 2020 starting opposite Perriman, but Braxton Berrios, Josh Doctson and Vyncint Smith will have something to say about that throughout training camp.

Mims is likely to emerge as the winner of this position battle, but that is not a foregone conclusion. Nothing is going to be handed to the rookie in his first NFL training camp. If he slips up at any point, New York’s “veterans” will be chomping at the bit to impress and take the spot.

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10 Jets players in danger of being cut prior to training camp

Jets Wire takes a look at 10 players who could be released before the beginning of training camp on Thursday.

With the NFL expected to adopt a smaller offseason roster in the coming days, numerous Jets players on the roster bubble entering training camp are in danger of being cut before they even make it to One Jets Drive.

In an effort to combat the spread of COVID-19, offseason rosters could be reduced from 90 players to 80 or less for training camp. The NFL and NFLPA have already agreed to cancel the preseason, indicating that a smaller offseason roster could be the next measure the league takes in an effort to reduce the risk of players contracting coronavirus.

Smaller offseason rosters would mean pink slips being handed out before the beginning of camp. Jets rookies have already reported to Florham Park, but the rest of the team is scheduled to arrive on Thursday. That gives New York five days to cut its roster down by 10 or more players.

So, which Jets players could be in danger of being cut before the beginning of training camp? Here are 10 that could be shown the door before Thursday.

Avery Williamson

Avery Williamson was already facing an uphill battle for his roster spot entering training camp. Now, his departure out of the Big Apple could be expedited.

Williamson missed all of 2019 due to a torn ACL, putting his future with the Jets in flux. Blake Cashman shined as a rookie in Williamson’s place, while New York added C.J. Mosley’s former running mate, Patrick Onwuasor, in free agency this offseason. That does not necessarily mean Williamson is on his way out, but it puts him behind the eight ball when it comes to making the 53-man roster.

Considering Williamson’s already-slim chances of breaking camp with the Jets, Joe Douglas and company could do him and the organization a favor by releasing him before Thursday. The Jets said that Williamson would get a chance to compete for a job in the preseason, but that can’t happen now that there won’t be one.

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Report: Extra locker room space part of Jets’ plan to comply with NFL social distancing guidelines

Extra locker room space will play a part in New York’s plans for social distancing in training camp.

When the Jets report to training camp beginning this week, their locker room at One Jets Drive will not be as crowded as it normally is during the summer.

In order to meet the NFL’s guidelines for social distancing issued last month, New York will use trailers set up outside of team facilities as extra locker room space, according to the New York Post’s Brian Costello. The NFL is requiring 6 feet of space between lockers, which is not possible to do in the Jets’ regular locker room with a 90-man training camp roster. New York is also not able to use MetLife Stadium, as the Giants are holding their training camp there.

Jets players will begin reporting to training camp on Tuesday with the rookies being the first to head back to team facilities. Quarterbacks and injured players will report on Thursday, while the remainder of the team is set to return on July 28. Head coach Adam Gase returned last week. The rest of his coaching staff is scheduled to report on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Despite the NFL’s social distancing guidelines, there are still many unknowns about training camp, preseason and what kind of precautions the league is taking to ensure player safety. The NFL is still negotiating details such as testing frequency and the number of preseason games that will be played, leaving plenty up in the air as rookies from the Chiefs and Texans are set to be the first to report for camp beginning on Monday.

6 under the radar Jets with a huge opportunity this summer

Jets Wire takes a look at six Jets players currently flying under the radar who have an opportunity to prove their worth in training camp.

Opportunity will be aplenty when the Jets report to training camp in a couple of weeks.

Most of the focus throughout camp will center around battles for starting jobs. However, just because a player misses out on a starting job or is viewed more as a complementary piece than a primary option, that does not mean they cannot contribute in 2020.

With numerous starting jobs up for grabs in Jets camp, there will be a handful of players who end up No. 2 on the depth chart to begin the season and even more who are primed to contribute in secondary roles. Here are six Jets players flying under the radar entering training camp that have a major opportunity to prove their worth and establish their niche before Week 1 rolls around.

Vyncint Smith

No. 4 wide receivers typically don’t garner much attention or factor heavily into an offensive gameplan, but Vyncint Smith has what it takes to change that narrative this upcoming season.

Smith possesses the kind of electric skillset that can burn an opposing defense at any time. He has top-end breakaway speed and can do a lot to make defenders miss when he has the ball in the open field. The Jets seem set with Jamison Crowder, Denzel Mims and Breshad Perriman as their three starting wideouts to begin the year, but it will be tough to keep Smith off the field knowing what he can bring to the table when given the opportunity to see the field.

The 2020 season has the makings of a breakout campaign for Smith. His chance to play will likely come in a complementary role, but that should be enough for him to make a difference.

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11 veteran Jets fighting for their roster spot this training camp

Jets Wire takes a look at 11 veterans who will be fighting for their roster spot when New York reports to training camp in late July.

Training camp is the time for undrafted free agents and unheralded fringe players to make their case for an active roster spot. It is also the time for veterans to put everything on the line in order to keep their jobs.

When the Jets report to training camp on July 28, there will be just as many young players duking it out for a roster spot as there will be veterans hanging on for dear life. New York has a good amount of positions up for grabs, which means opportunity for the veterans. However, general manager Joe Douglas and company will have no issue siding with a younger player over one with more experience if the younger player dominates while the veteran treads water.

So, which Jets veterans will be fighting for a job in training camp? Here are 11 that are going to have to impress if they want to break camp with New York in September.

Avery Williamson

It’s rare that a player finds himself on the chopping block less than two years after leading his team in tackles, but that is the position Avery Williamson is in entering training camp.

Considering the financial gain the Jets stand to benefit from by parting ways with Williamson, all signs point toward the 28-year-old not breaking camp with the team. Unless he leaves no doubt that he should be the starting inside linebacker opposite Mosley, Williamson’s time at One Jets Drive could be running short.

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6 starting spots up for grabs as Jets enter training camp

Jets Wire takes a look at six starting spots still up for grabs as the Jets get set to report to training camp.

The Jets have a lot of things to figure out once they report to training camp on July 28 — especially when it comes to their starting lineup.

So, which starting positions will be up for grabs once training camp kicks off in less than three weeks? Here are the six to keep an eye on.

No. 2 Wide Receiver

Jamison Crowder is entrenched as a starter in the slot and speed demon Breshad Perriman is a lock to start on the outside. That leaves the No. 2 spot on New York’s depth chart open for the taking.

Quincy Enunwa and Denzel Mims were set to battle for the job until a neck injury put Enunwa out for the season. Mims now has a major inside track at beginning 2020 starting opposite Perriman, but the likes of Braxton Berrios, Josh Doctson and Vyncint Smith will have something to say about that throughout training camp and the preseason.

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Gov. Phil Murphy says Jets, Giants won’t have to quarantine before training camp

According to New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, the Jets will not have to quarantine before the beginning of training camp.

Despite New Jersey’s quarantine rule requiring individuals traveling from states seeing high COVID-19 numbers to isolate for 14 days, the Jets and Giants will not have to worry about quarantining before the beginning of training camp.

According to New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, New Jersey’s quarantine rule has a “carve-out out for essential travel.” Pro sports teams qualify for that carve-out, meaning both the Jets, whose facilities are located in Florham Park, and the Giants, who reside in East Rutherford, are exempt from isolating.

“We do have a carve-out for essential travel and a professional sports team would qualify for that carve-out,” Murphy said while appearing on SiriusXM NFL Radio on Friday. “We’d probably, without putting this in stone, I’m sure we’d probably want to do one, and more than one, test for the virus when they got here. Or ask them to take it as they’re leaving wherever their host state is. That’s the minimum standard.”

The Jets and Giants are scheduled to report to training camp on July 28. The same essential travel “carve-out” also applies to players traveling to New York and Connecticut, like members of the Buffalo Bills, NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport confirmed with New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office.

“A 14-day quarantine doesn’t work in an NFL schedule,” Murphy said. “So, at least the testing piece would have to be there, and I think if anyone is symptomatic or they’ve tested positive already, I’d hope they wouldn’t get on the plane.”

Jets to skip minicamp due to COVID-19 pandemic

The Jets will skip their mandatory minicamp this offseason because of COVID-19.

Despite finally being able to reopen their training facility, the New York Jets have canceled one of the most important events on their calendar.

According to the New York Post’s Brian Costello, the Jets will not hold their three-day, in-person mandatory minicamp this offseason. They’ll conclude their virtual offseason program next week and then hopefully come back together for training camp at the end of July.

The Jets’ mandatory minicamp was scheduled for June 4-6. However, the NFL has yet to make a decision on whether or not minicamps will be held due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the Jets’ case, it didn’t appear likely that their minicamp would happen given that their facility just reopened for business with tight protocols in place.

The NFL has strict restrictions on who can re-enter training facilities. Only players who are rehabbing injuries can return to the facilities for treatment. No other players or coaches are allowed back in the building.

The NFL also announced Tuesday that teams must stay at their own facilities for training camp. This doesn’t affect the Jets since their only training site is located in Florham Park, New Jersey.