Finally, the real games are set to begin.
Following a preseason in which hardly any starters participated, the 49ers will host the Jets on Monday Night Football on Sept. 9 to begin the season.
Before the games count in the NFL standards, let’s examine some of the top storylines for the Jets.
Gang Green’s roster is vastly improved
After acquiring him from the Packers a year ago, the Jets thought Aaron Rodgers would solve all their offensive issues. Obviously, that was not the case.
Rodgers tore his Achilles four plays into his debut, and the Jets finished 7-10 for the second consecutive year. Jets owner Woody Johnson then publicly put Jets general manager Joe Douglas and coach Robert Saleh on notice, and they each went to work on improving the roster during the offseason.
Last season, the Jets used 14 different offensive line combinations in 17 games, which led the league. Instead of having Duane Brown and Mekhi Becton as their starting tackles as they did in 2023, the Jets signed future Hall of Famer and eight-time Pro Bowler Tyron Smith and left guard John Simpson. They also acquired right tackle Morgan Moses in a trade with the Ravens.
In addition to those moves, the Jets signed ex-Chargers wide receiver Mike Williams to a one-year deal to help complement No. 1 target Garrett Wilson. The Jets even have a competent backup quarterback should Rodgers suffer an injury again after signing Tyrod Taylor.
If their defense plays to the level of the previous two seasons when they finished in the top five, the Jets could contend in the AFC.
Aaron Rodgers looks back to form
Speaking of Rodgers, throughout training camp and the two joint practices against the Panthers and Giants he participated in, the four-time NFL MVP appears to be back to form after his season-ending injury.
As time passes, Rodgers is visibly gaining more confidence in his arm and legs. His ball placement looks as good as ever, and Rodgers can still move in and out of the pocket, even for a 40-year-old quarterback.
The Jets don’t need Rodgers to return to his 2020-21 back-to-back MVP form. As long as he can be the intelligent signal caller he has been during his 20-year career, Rodgers’ play will be good enough to keep the Jets in every game this season.
Relying on health
One primary concern on the Jets’ roster is that they are relying on many players with questionable injury histories. Smith hasn’t played an entire season since 2015. Williams is returning from a season-ending ACL injury he suffered in Week 3 last season.
Moses also tore his pectoral muscle early last season, not to mention Rodgers’ injury concerns as he ages.
Many will say every team has to stay healthy to contend. That’s somewhat true, but the Browns started five quarterbacks last year and lost both tackles, but they still made the playoffs. It remains to be seen if the Jets can navigate the injury bug in the same manner.
Paging Reddick
Saleh told reporters on Tuesday that Haason Reddick could be in uniform if he shows up before Week 1.
“He’s a veteran. He knows what he needs to get ready,” Saleh said. “He’s had success in multiple buildings and multiple schemes with multiple coaching staffs, so he’s going to know what he needs to do to be ready for Week 1.
“So he still has plenty of time.”
The Jets acquired Reddick in late March in a trade with the Eagles. On April 1, Reddick came to the Jets facility to take his physical and have his introductory press conference.
Since then, Reddick has been a no-show around Florham Park. He didn’t participate in OTAs and mandatory minicamp and did not report for training camp on July 23 with the rest of the team. Reddick also requested the Jets to trade him on Aug. 12.
If Reddick does not show up next week, this holdout could last weeks, if not months. One thing to keep in mind is that his contract would roll over to 2025 if he does not report to the Jets.
Defensive line has significant questions
Gang Green really could use Reddick after losing 19.5 sacks during the offseason, following the departures of Bryce Huff and Quinton Jefferson and the trade of John Franklin-Myers. Externally, Jets coaches have expressed confidence in Micheal Clemons and Will McDonald to fill in if Reddick continues to hold out. However, both Clemons and McDonald have been used as rotational players at this point.
Another area of worry on the defensive line is stopping the run. The Jets finished 25th in rushing yards allowed (124 yards per game) last season. The expectation was Leki Fotu and Javon Kinlaw would help in that area, but Fotu will miss the first four weeks of the season after he was placed on injured reserve on Tuesday.
