Hours main as much as the primary preseason recreation towards the Philadelphia Eagles, Jets coach Robert Saleh determined to relaxation a number of starters.
It seems that might as soon as once more be the case for Gang Inexperienced’s second preseason recreation towards the Atlanta Falcons Monday night time.
“I’m torn on it,” Saleh mentioned after Saturday’s apply. “I get up at some point and ask do I play them and I get up the subsequent day and determine I’m not going to play them. I feel there’s great worth on this one and it's completely different as a result of it’s Monday Night time Soccer. We're such a younger workforce and a whole lot of younger guys — that’s what they dream of, Monday Night time Soccer.
“You by no means wish to make a recreation larger than it must be, however there’s nonetheless that human facet of how they grew up and the way individuals view Monday night time as that’s the one recreation on and all of your friends are watching. It’s an ideal alternative to present our guys to undergo the psychological facet of a heightened surroundings to allow them to handle Week 1.”
As with every preseason recreation, there’s all the time the danger of starters struggling an damage. That’s precisely what occurred in the course of the first preseason recreation towards the Eagles.
Quarterback Zach Wilson suffered a bone bruise and meniscus damage whereas scrambling in the course of the first quarter. Though the harm isn’t as extreme as some predicted, Wilson might miss the season opener towards the Baltimore Ravens after surgical procedure to the suitable knee this week.
Like many groups within the league, the Jets have scheduled joint practices with the thought of evaluating gamers higher than they may throughout a preseason recreation. Over the past two days, the Jets’ first, second and third groups participated in 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills with Friday being a padded apply.
“It’s good going up towards one other opponent,” Jets security Jordan Whitehead mentioned. “Being at camp, we're used to our offense. However going in the direction of the season, it's useful going up towards one other opponent.”
JERMAINE ATTACKS PRACTICE
Many first-round picks mechanically get positioned as a starter rapidly after being drafted.
With the Jets’ line of defense being one of many workforce’s deepest items, that isn’t the case for Jermaine Johnson. Nevertheless, turning into a starter is the least of Johnson’s considerations proper now as he’s centered on enhancing from apply to apply.
“Nevertheless, I may help the workforce, that’s how I take a look at it,” Johnson mentioned. “I apply like I’m a free agent anyway.
“I apply like I’m preventing for my life, that’s how I'm and that’s how I apply. It simply traces up completely with what Coach Saleh is all about. Practising exhausting, balls to the wall and provides 110% with not solely your self however with the workforce.”
Johnson has been disruptive over the last two practices towards the Falcons. On Friday, he registered a sack on Atlanta quarterback Marcus Mariota, and a day later, Johnson recorded a sack on Desmond Ridder.
The Jets coaches have been impressed with Johnson’s detailed enhancements since being drafted within the spring.
“I really like the way in which Jermaine has attacked apply,” Saleh mentioned. “Soccer for these guys is very easy all through school that they've to determine a brand new solution to apply. There’s a stage of talent and a stage of professionalism that takes place on the apply discipline with effort and dealing on their approach.
“That a part of his recreation has been a nice shock as he has grabbed it by the horns and provides his finest on daily basis. He's a rookie, so there are a whole lot of issues he has to study. However he’s attempting to contribute on [special] groups, he’s attempting to contribute within the run recreation, and attempting to contribute within the go recreation.
“His psychological make-up, his athleticism, his hand-eye coordination, all that stuff is superior. It's going be a matter of time earlier than he ties all of it collectively.”
JOYNER BACK, WILLIAMS STILL OUT
Jets security LaMarcus Joyner returned to apply after lacking the final week attributable to an sickness. He participated in workforce drills with the remainder of the workforce.
The identical couldn't be mentioned about defensive lineman Quinnen Williams as he's nonetheless coping with an ankle damage he suffered final week. Becoming a member of Williams was defensive lineman Bryce Huff and deal with Duane Brown as additionally they labored with trainers all through apply.
Saleh says he hopes to have Brown training with the remainder of the workforce after Monday night time’s preseason recreation.
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