The Jets had a light, non-padded practice Wednesday in their first work since Monday’s preseason win over the Atlanta Falcons. Wednesday was fairly easy as the Jets prepare for their joint practice Thursday with the New York Giants, the first time since 2005 that the Jets and Giants will hold a joint practice. Here are a few notes from Wednesday’s workout.
Duane Brown finally takes team reps
After mostly working off to the side and in individual work, left tackle Duane Brown took his first 11-on-11 reps Wednesday, meaning the entire starting lineup is now able to work together
. Head coach Robert Saleh plans on getting Brown involved, along with the rest of the starters, during Sunday’s preseason finale against the Giants.
“It was awesome to get the whole frontline working together, first time all year it feels like and it was really good,” Saleh said. “I’m sure it felt good for him for his first couple of reps and we’ll continue to ramp him up and see if we can get him to, he’s in phenomenal shape, so I’m not worried about his ability to go for a full game. It’s just a matter of getting the football plays in. He’s very familiar with the scheme, so it was awesome to get them all together.”
Sunday will just be another chance for Brown to get more work with his new teammates and get a few game reps in for the first time this preseason before the show really gets going on September 11. The Jets were just playing their cards as best they could with Brown and it looks like it’s so far, so good.
Quinnen Williams also returns
Duane Brown wasn’t the only important piece making a big impact at Jets practice. Defensive tackle Quinnen Williams returned to practice Wednesday after dealing with an ankle injury. As ESPN’s Rich Cimini noted, this means every projected Week 1 starter of defense is healthy, which is great news for the Jets with just less than three weeks left before the season opener.
#Jets practice (no pads):
📰Duane Brown makes debut. Practiced for first time in 11 x 11. Starting OL finally together. Now it's a race vs the ⏰
🔙Quinnen Williams (ankle) returned, meaning every projected Wk 1 starter on D is healthy. Unusual for this stage of camp.— Rich Cimini (@RichCimini) August 24, 2022
Head coach Robert Saleh raved on Williams after practice and, by his account, Williams took very good care of himself during his recovery and thinks Williams is set for a big year.
“Yeah, I think he’s in the best shape of his life,” Saleh said. “I mean, I don’t want to speak for him. I’ve only known him for a couple years now, but I mean, the guys out there, he doesn’t sweat. He’s got a great explosive movement. He’s got that big babyface smile that we all love, but messing with him today, it’s good to see him back from vacation. Looked like he had fresh legs, but it’s good to get him back out there. He feels good. He looks good. The expectation is just do your best, but we’re really excited because we think his best is going to be pretty damn good this year.”
Very solid day for Joe Flacco
It may have been a light practice, but regardless, it was another very solid day for Joe Flacco, who continues to be more and more the likely Week 1 starter at quarterback, as head coach Robert Saleh didn’t have much of an update on Zach Wilson.
“I have no information on that one,” Saleh said when asked by ESPN’s Rich Cimini on if he has idea of when Wilson could do positional drills again. “I know he’s working his tail off with regards to maintaining his progress with the playbook and scheme. He’s in every meeting and he’s still getting the extra working with (Rob) Calabrese and Mike (LaFleur), so when he’s ready to play, get on the field, he’ll be ready.”
Cimini had Flacco at 13-for-18, including a long touchdown drive (13 plays, 50 yards). The drive ended with a touchdown on fourth down in which Flacco scrambled and hit running back Michael Carter on the run for the touchdown.
🏈Mostly good day for Flacco (13-for-18). Sputtered in red-zone period, but ended practice with long TD drive. Even showed some wheels on scramble/pass outside the pocket.
⭐️Anae, coming off big game, knocked ball out of Flacco's hands for strip sack. Late charge for roster spot— Rich Cimini (@RichCimini) August 24, 2022
Flacco did suffer a strip-sack from, who else, edge Bradlee Anae, the same guy that had the strip-sack-six off of Falcons quarterback Feleipe Franks on Monday. Other than that, another practice you can feel good about from Flacco.
Michael Carter vs Michael Carter
We were treated to a small battle between the two Michael Carters during Wednesday’s practice.
While the Jets were doing red zone work, nickel back Michael Carter II recorded a pass breakup on a pass intended for running back Michael Carter.
Of course, the running back wound up with the last laugh thanks to the aforementioned one-yard touchdown reception from Joe Flacco at the end of practice. But anytime we get two players with the same name going against each other, it’s always a fun time.
Greg shows his leg in first practice since beating Pineiro
On Tuesday, kicker Greg Zuerlein officially won the Jets’ kicking competition, as Eddy Pineiro was among the five players let go by the Jets to get down to the 80-man roster limit.
So far, the Jets feel very good about their decision. In his first practice since beating out Pineiro, Zuerlein went 6/6 on field goals, including a 53-yard that, according to Jets’ team reporter Ethan Greenberg, “would have been good from 60”.
In his first day as the Jets’ only kicker on the roster, Greg Zeurlein went 6 for 6 on his FGs including a 53-yarder that would’ve been good from close to 60.
— Ethan Greenberg (@EGreenbergJets) August 24, 2022
Robert Saleh spoke a bit about the kicking decision and Zuerlein in his post-practice press conference.
“Yeah, he’s a veteran,” Saleh said. “He’s been there done that. We went against him when he was at the Rams for a lot of years and I think we had a nickname, his nickname was Legatron back then, now it’s Greg the Leg I guess, but he’s/ got a big leg. He can kick it from anywhere over 55 yards and have plenty of distance.”
“I thought Eddy (Pineiro) did a fantastic job too,” Saleh added. “He came into the stadium last year and was eight for eight I believe on field goals, so he was every bit of deserving too. It’s just we had to make a decision and that was the decision we went with, but really excited about Greg because he’s kicked game-winners. He’s been through it all and just to have that veteran presence back there, it was reliable. It’s pretty good.”
Zuerlein went 29/35 on field goals and 42/48 on extra points last season with the Dallas Cowboys. He has made 82.2 percent of his kicks over his ten-year career. Pineiro made all eight of his field goals in five games with the Jets last season, but the Jets opted to go with the veteran. So far, so good.
