We are hitting the dog days of training camp.
The Jets have two weeks of camp left and two more joint practices with the Panthers and Giants as well as preseason games against those teams.
It feels like a perfect time to do a 53-man roster projection.
Here we go:
QB (2): Aaron Rodgers, Tyrod Taylor
Jordan Travis looks a long way from doing anything. I think he’ll end up on an injured list this season and this will be a true redshirt year as he recovers from the leg injury that ended his college career.
Both Andrew Peasley and Adrian Martinez had good moments Saturday against the Commanders, but I don’t think the Jets will carry three quarterbacks. I would expect one of them to end up on the practice squad.
RB (3): Breece Hall, Braelon Allen, Isaiah Davis
Everyone got a glimpse of what Allen is capable of in Saturday’s preseason opener. The fourth-round pick looks like a nice complement to Breece Hall. Davis also has potential.
The big question here is whether Israel Abanikanda makes the team. I don’t think he will. Abanikanda is barely getting reps in camp, and it feels as if the coaching staff already has written him off. I could see the Jets picking up a running back off the waiver wire.
WR (7): Garrett Wilson, Mike Williams, Allen Lazard, Xavier Gipson, Malachi Corley, Irv Charles, Jason Brownlee
Seven feels like a lot, but I don’t see anyone I would cut from this list. Wilson, Williams and Gipson are your starting wide receivers. Lazard is not going anywhere with that contract, and he provides some insurance if Williams starts slow.
I think Corley may take some time to get going, but he is obviously making the team. Charles is a valuable player on special teams. Brownlee has shown a lot of potential, and I can’t see the Jets cutting him.
TE (4): Tyler Conklin, Jeremy Ruckert, Kenny Yeboah, Zack Kuntz
I debated whether to just keep three here, but I think a case can be made for Yeboah and Kuntz. Yeboah is a good special-teams player and is capable of playing fullback, a versatility that has taken on greater importance with the team cutting Nick Bawden. Kuntz has shown flashes in practice and had some chemistry with Rodgers late last season on the scout team.
OL (9): Tyron Smith, John Simpson, Joe Tippmann, Alijah Vera-Tucker, Morgan Moses, Olu Fashanu, Wes Schweitzer, Max Mitchell, Carter Warren
Joe Douglas might be tempted to keep 12 offensive linemen after last year’s disaster. I went with these nine. Fashanu eventually will have to be the swing tackle, but Mitchell and Warren are also capable of playing both spots.
Mitchell can also play guard. Schweitzer is the primary backup at center and guard.
DL (9): Jermaine Johnson, Quinnen Williams, Javon Kinlaw, Haason Reddick, Will McDonald, Micheal Clemons, Solomon Thomas, Leki Fotu, Jalyn Holmes
I had a tough time at the end here, and I could definitely see the Jets keeping 10 at this position.
Takk McKinley has a first-round pedigree, a background with Jeff Ulbrich and showed flashes early in camp before an injury sidelined him. He has a shot. The other one to watch is undrafted free agent Leonard Taylor. He oozes potential. In a less talented room, he’d be a no-brainer to keep, but this group has a lot of talent and there is no one I would cut here to keep Taylor.
Reddick’s holdout could change this picture, but even after his trade request on Monday, I think the Jets and Reddick will figure out their differences by Week 1.
LB (5): C.J. Mosley, Quincy Williams, Jamien Sherwood, Zaire Barnes, Chazz Surratt
This has been a really impressive group in camp because of the depth. If any of these guys were cut, there’s a good chance they would make other teams. I ended up keeping five because I think Barnes and Surratt have both made good cases to stick.
Sam Eguavoen also has had a good camp. I just can’t fit him.
CB (6): Sauce Gardner, D.J. Reed, Michael Carter, Brandin Echols, Qwan’tez Stiggers, Jarrick Bernard-Converse
Another group that has some depth. The top three are set.
Echols is a valuable special-teams player and can back up at nickel and on the outside. Stiggers has been flying around all camp. Bernard-Converse might be the most improved player on the team.
S (5): Chuck Clark, Tony Adams, Ashtyn Davis, Isaiah Oliver, Jaylen Key
This feels like a lot, but I can’t see Douglas cutting a draft pick, even Key, who was the last pick in the draft.
ST (3): Greg Zuerlein, Thomas Morstead, Thomas Hennessy
The Jets finally have stability with their specialists. It is a miracle.
Stat’s so
We took a look in last week’s newsletter at the best running backs in Jets history in their first three seasons. Now let’s look at the pass catchers.
Garrett Wilson has a good shot of leading this list after this season. He already has the most receiving yards in his first two seasons in Jets history.
A good start for the rookies
There was not a whole lot to glean from Saturday’s preseason opener with the Commanders. Joe Tippmann was the only starter who played, and he played just seven snaps.
The one thing that did stand out was how well the rookies played.
First-round pick Fashanu played the entire first half and did not allow any pressures on 14 pass snaps, per Pro Football Focus.
Corley showed his ability to break tackles on that weird play where he caught the ball off a drop by Kuntz. Running backs Allen and Davis both had big plays. Taylor, the undrafted defensive tackle, had a sack and a big tackle for loss.
Preseason games don’t mean much, but it had to be a positive for the Jets to see so many rookies playing well. It was clear the game was not too big for them.