The Jets released their first unofficial depth chart of the season. For the most part, it’s what we expected going into the Ravens game, especially now with the news that Zach Wilson will be out until at least Week 4. Let’s talk about the depth chart and some thoughts on it heading into Week 1.
Joe Flacco is officially official
Head coach Robert Saleh made the official announcement earlier Wednesday and the depth chart further illustrates the point. Joe Flacco is the starting quarterback for the Jets and he will be for at least the first three games of the season, as Saleh said the earliest Zach Wilson will be available will be Week 4 against the Steelers.
This also means Mike White is entrenched as the backup for the first three weeks of the season, which includes a date with the Cincinnati Bengals, whom White has his breakout game last season, going 37/45 for 405 yards and three touchdowns in a 34-31 win over the eventual AFC champions on Halloween.
Zach Wilson will be listed as the third quarterback for the time being, as he remains on the active roster. Chris Streveler is on the practice squad as QB4.
Kwon Alexander finally listed on first-team defense
It took a while, but the inevitable finally happened. Linebacker Kwon Alexander is listed on the first-team defense. In fact, the Jets are listing three linebackers as starters, where, for a while, they only listed two starters (Quincy Williams and C.J. Mosley).
The depth chart may also lead to thoughts that the Jets will consistently mix up between Alexander and nickel back Michael Carter II, as both Alexander and Carter are listed as first-team players and the Jets actually have 12 players listed on the first team. That’s how most defenses are in today’s world anyway, and this is an unofficial depth chart, but it’s still interesting to note and it’s a good sign that Alexander finally got his well-deserved bump up to the first team.
Also of note with the linebackers, Marcell Harris is Alexander’s backup and Jamien Sherwood is listed as the backup to both Mosley and Williams with his versatility and excellent tackling ability.
Michael Carter still listed as RB1, Breece Hall closing the gap
It’s typical for rookies to be at the bottom of the depth chart, particularly at the running back position. Now that the regular season is upon us, the Jets have bumped rookie Breece Hall up to RB2, still behind Michael Carter. Ty Johnson is the third running back.
But it’s only a matter of time before that changes. The Jets invested a second-round pick in Hall, so they will want to run him at some point. Really, these two should be treated as co-RB1’s. It’s entirely plausible Carter and Hall split the work almost 50/50 to start, then when Hall gets more comfortable in the offense, the Jets will lean more toward him as the lead back. So take this current listing with a grain of salt.
Offensive line chart is about what you thought it would be
The Jets currently have nine offensive linemen on the 53-man roster and they are lined up just about how you expected them to be.
The starting five, as it has been since Duane Brown signed, from left to right, is Brown, Laken Tomlinson, Connor McGovern, Alijah Vera-Tucker and George Fant.
Newly re-signed Conor McDermott is listed as Brown’s backup and likely the first backup behind Brown and Fant. Rookie Max Mitchell is listed behind Fant at right tackle.
Nate Herbig is the backup to Tomlinson at left guard and Dan Feeney is your backup center to McGovern and is also listed as the backup right guard behind Vera-Tucker. Again, nothing surprising, but we now have an idea who’s likely coming in where if the Jets have to dip into their reserve tank on the line.
Don't be concerned by listing of tight ends
The unofficial pecking order of the tight ends is C.J. Uzomah, Tyler Conklin, Lawrence Cager and Jeremy Ruckert. But with the likely amount of 12 personnel the Jets will be running this season, Conklin will easily be very much involved in the offense and may very well, if not likely, outproduce Uzomah this season.
Cager should also be used as an athletic flex tight end to help keep things fresh for the Jets. Cager proved in the preseason he can easily help move the chain and work the seams. Rookie Ruckert still has some developing to do, so expectations are low right now for the Ohio State product.
Who comes in after Franklin-Myers and Lawson will be an interesting watch all season
The Jets loaded up on pass-rush help this offseason. They initially kept seven defensive ends on the 53-man roster, but part of that was to be able to place Vinny Curry on injured reserve with the ability to bring him back in a few weeks.
Still, the Jets have six legit edge defenders, led by Carl Lawson and John Franklin-Myers. They can easily order the remaining four in any way they want to. The reality is all six defensive ends can easily see playing time week in and week out.
For now, Jacob Martin and Jermaine Johnson are listed on the second team and then it’s Bryce Huff and Micheal Clemons. It will be quite intriguing all season to watch this group in action and how the Jets divvy up the snaps among the six.
