Believe it or not, training camp is here for the Jets.
Gang Green rookies reported late last week, and the veterans will show up on Tuesday. The team will then kick off their practice sessions on Wednesday.
The last time the Jets hit the practice field at Florham Park, the chatter was about the “unexcused” absence of Aaron Rodgers from mandatory minicamp. Rodgers reportedly skipped the two-day session because of a pre-planned vacation.
“Selfishly, I want all our guys here all the time,” Jets coach Robert Saleh said last month. “When you get to these mandatory things, you make the best decision for yourself. Obviously, I want all of them here all the time, but he made a decision, and that’s what he went with.”
Despite Rodgers’ absence in the final two days of mandatory minicamp, his commitment was evident as he was present for the rest of the offseason program. Alongside Rodgers’ return, several compelling storylines will follow the Jets during their 21 practice sessions.
CAN RODGERS RETURN TO FORM?
A year ago, the expectation was that the Jets would end their postseason drought with Rodgers under center. But four plays into his season debut against the Bills, Rodgers tore his Achilles and missed the rest of the season.
Since the devastating injury, Rodgers, 40, has been rehabbing in an effort to return to the player he once was. He has won four NFL MVPs and a Super Bowl with the Packers. However, after a significant injury and his age, there are doubts that Rodgers can still be one of the best quarterbacks in the league.
Rodgers has heard the doubters. That’s why he wanted to attempt to the come back in the same season in which he tore his Achilles before the Jets were eliminated from playoff contention in Week 15.
If OTAs were any indication, Rodgers can still be one of the best signal-callers in the league. During the available media practice sessions, Rodgers showed the same accuracy that people have come to know during his 19-year career.
“I have a lot of motivation,” Rodgers said during OTAs. “I love the game, I want to play at a high-level, I don’t want to go out, as I’ve said before, as a bum. I want to be able to play.
“That’s why I put the work in and believe in my abilities. You guys saw it today, there were no pads on, but I can obviously still throw with the best of them and can still move around and look forward to my confidence and my ability to move, getting back to where it was last year and going out and playing well. I think all the individual possibilities for recognition would be great, but if I play the way I’m capable of playing, we’re going to be playing for a lot more than that.”
WILL REDDICK REPORT TO CAMP ON TIME?
Rodgers wasn’t the only player with an unexcused absence during mandatory minicamp. Haason Reddick, who the Jets acquired in a trade with the Eagles in March, missed the entire offseason program during the spring.
Reddick is in the final year of a three-year, $45 million contract the Jets inherited from the Eagles. He isn’t owed any guaranteed money remaining on his contract. Gang Green believed Reddick was OK playing out the final year of his deal and hitting free agency in 2025.
However, Reddick stayed away and had limited contact with the Jets. The Jets need Reddick after letting homegrown talent Bryce Huff, who led the team in sacks last year (10), sign a three-year, $51.1 million contract with the Eagles. Reddick has registered four consecutive double-digit sacks seasons (50.5 combined).
HOW QUICKLY CAN THE NEW O-LINE COME TOGETHER?
The Jets’ offensive line has been the biggest source of issues the last few seasons. In 2022, 11 different players started games on Gang Green’s offensive line. Last season, the Jets had 14 different O-line combinations in 17 games, which led the NFL.
Because of that, Jets general manager Joe Douglas revamped the unit this offseason. Gone are tackles Duane Brown, Mekhi Becton and guard Laken Tomlinson.
The Jets replaced them with future Hall of Famer left tackle Tyron Smith, right tackle Morgan Moses and left guard John Simpson. They also selected Olu Fashanu 11th overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, who will be the Jets’ left tackle of the future.
Smith, 33, was an eight-time Pro Bowler and a five-time All-Pro selection during his 13 seasons with the Cowboys. But injuries have hampered his career. Smith hasn’t played an entire season since 2015 and has missed 37 games since 2020.
Moses, 33, also has injury concerns. The 10-year veteran is coming off surgery on his torn pectoral, which he suffered with the Ravens last season. Moses was limited during OTAs and mandatory minicamp and could be brought along slowly during training camp.
WILL THE DEFENSE CONTINUE TO PLAY AT A HIGH LEVEL?
The Jets’ defense has finished in the top five each of the last two seasons, but the defensive line has undergone some major changes.
In addition to losing Huff and adding Reddick, John Franklin-Myers was traded to the Broncos in April in exchange for a 2026 sixth-round pick. Defensive lineman Quinton Jefferson, who finished with six sacks, signed a one-year contract with the Browns.
Will McDonald, who the Jets selected 15th overall in the 2023 NFL Draft, hopes to have more of a role this season. He finished with 14 tackles and three sacks in 15 games in 2023.
Gang Green’s defense should still be stout again with Quinnen Williams and Sauce Gardner. However, the Jets have significant concerns, especially regarding their run defense.
Although the Jets finished third in yards allowed, they finished 25th in rushing defense (124 yards per game). Gang Green hopes the additions of Javon Kinlaw and Leki Fotu will help them improve in that area.
IS 2024 MAKE OR BREAK FOR JETS BRASS?
Because of Rodgers’ injury, Douglas and Saleh received a mulligan for last season. But that didn’t stop Jets owner Woody Johnson from voicing his displeasure after finishing 7-10 for the second consecutive year.
“They’ve seen me about as mad as I could be with what was going on with the offense particularly,” Johnson said at the NFL Honors show in February. “We’ve got all this talent and we’ve got to deploy talent properly.
“I think they all got the message. We’ve got to produce this year. This is not a playoff mandate, but we have to do a lot better than seven wins.”
When the Jets acquired Rodgers, the expectation was not just to make the playoffs but also to contend for a Super Bowl. Obviously, that didn’t happen last season.
Gang Green hasn’t made the playoffs since 2010, the longest drought among the four major North American sports. The Jets’ roster has undergone significant changes in the last two seasons, and they still hope to contend in a loaded AFC. There could be significant consequences if the Jets miss the playoffs for the 14th straight year.
Douglas hasn’t finished with a winning record since he was hired as Jets general manager in 2019 (27-56 overall). Neither has Saleh, who was hired as Jets coach in 2021 (18-33).
Not many general managers and coaches have survived after three consecutive losing seasons. Another losing season could signal a rebuild in Florham Park.
“I mirror the frustration that Woody has,” Douglas said. “Woody and I talk every day, just about every day and so we’re certainly on the same page.
“Again, I like the position we’re in. We know exactly what we have to do moving forward. The pressure is always intrinsic in his job whenever you walk in every day, but I can tell you that we’re not stressed.
“We’re prepared to answer the bell here with the decisions that have to be made moving forward.”
