Aaron Rodgers wasn’t in attendance for the Jets’ mandatory minicamp on Tuesday.
With all the attention shifting to backup quarterback Tyrod Taylor, the practice was a mixed bag for the offense.
During 11-on-11 drills, Taylor completed 5-of-7 passes. He also was 4-of-4 in 7-on-7 drills.
Taylor completed a few check-down passes to running back Xazavian Valladay and wide receiver Xavier Gipson. He also completed passes to Garrett Wilson and Allen Lazard. However, there were a few miscues during 11-on-11 drills. Taylor pitched a ball to rookie running back Braelon Allen, but the ball fell to the ground. Then, during red zone work, Taylor fumbled the snap rom center Joe Tippmann.
Taylor also threw the ball over tight end Jeremy Ruckert‘s head. He also had an incompletion to Lazard during red zone drills, which Sauce Gardner broke up.
Taylor told reporters he first learned he would get the starting first-team reps on Tuesday morning.
“I’ve been in this league long enough to know it’s a next-man-up mentality,” Taylor said. “If you create a culture around that, it is about going out there and executing play in and play out competing at a high level.
“I think the guys did a great job of doing that today. We competed our butts off against the defense all spring. We have another opportunity tomorrow before we go on break and in training camp.
“I think the guys did a great job of competing today and all spring.”
The Jets signed Taylor to solidify the backup quarterback position after the carousel of quarterbacks — Zach Wilson, Tim Boyle and Trevor Siemian — following Rodgers’ Achilles tear four plays into the Jets’ season debut against the Bills last September. Taylor, 34, has a ton of experience in the NFL after stops with the Ravens, Bills, Browns, Chargers, Texans, Giants and now Jets.
In addition to being a journeyman backup QB, Taylor has started 58 games under center, most of them with the Bills from 2015-17. In 2017, Taylor helped Buffalo make the playoffs for the first time since 1999. The following offseason, Taylor was traded to the Browns, with the Bills eventually selecting Josh Allen in the 2018 NFL Draft.
Taylor says his experience in various offenses in the past has helped him grasp the Jets system.
“It’s been good,” Taylor said. “Obviously, the change of scenery altogether, but learning new verbiage and a fairly new system, but I think with Phase 1, Phase 2, and Phase 3, we’ve repped enough things and enough times to have some comfort level around it.
“The name of the game is to continue to get better each and every day. And that’s the focus for me and this team. Challenge ourselves to get better and that starts in the classroom and applying it to the field and that’s been my mindset day-to-day.”
Most of the Jets’ offensive line practiced Tuesday except for guard Alijah Vera-Tucker and right tackle Morgan Moses.
On Tuesday, before practice, Jets coach Robert Saleh told reporters he expects Vera-Tucker and Moses to be ready for training camp. Vera-Tucker has been recovering from an Achilles tear he suffered last October against the Broncos.
Moses had offseason surgery on a torn pectoral muscle he sustained while with the Ravens last season. He has been working out in the rehab area throughout the spring.
Running back Breece Hall also didn’t practice on Tuesday. Saleh said if it were a typical game week, Hall would participate in practice. However, the next two days will be opportunities for rookies Allen and Isaiah Davis to receive more snaps.
Wide receiver Mike Williams, whom the Jets signed in March, faces a longer recovery period. However, the team remains optimistic, and Williams is expected to be ready for the Jets’ Week 1 contest against the 49ers on Sept. 9.
Saleh said Williams would be on a similar timeline as Hall last year, who was returning from his 2022 ACL tear. Hall played in all 17 games a season ago, but the Jets had a pitch count on him early in the year.
When he was a member of the Chargers last season, Williams tore his ACL during their Week 3 road win against the Vikings in late September. He had 19 catches for 249 yards before his injury.
Jets running back Israel Abanikanda was shaken up during 11-on-11 drills and was escorted to the sideline with trainers. Abanikanda is expected to compete for the backup running back role with Allen and Davis.
Defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw, who missed organized team activities, attended mandatory minicamp. In March, the Jets signed Kinlaw to a one-year deal worth $7.25 million with $6.91 million in guaranteed money.
TWO VETS AMONG TRYOUT GROUP
Two recognizable veteran players are trying out with the Jets during mandatory minicamp.
Wide receiver Jakeem Grant and defensive lineman Takkarist McKinley were among the six players trying to land a contract with the Jets.
In 2016, Grant was selected by the Dolphins in the sixth round out of Texas Tech. He spent six seasons in Miami, averaging 9.7 per punt return and 24.8 kickoff return.
The Dolphins traded Grant to the Bears in 2021 for a 2023 sixth-round pick. He spent one season in Chicago, and made the Pro Bowl after averaging 11.9 yards per punt return and 23.4 per kickoff return.
In 2022, Grant signed a three-year deal with the Browns. However, injuries have limited Grant over the last two seasons.
After an Achilles injury during training camp, Grant missed the entire 2022 campaign. Then, last year, in a preseason game against the Chiefs, Grant suffered a broken patella and again was out for the entire season.
“All the kickoff rules, you know, like I said, between punt return and kick return, those guys are going to touch the ball over 100 times,” Saleh said about bringing Grant in for a tryout.
“You know, just trying to get as many eyes on as many guys as possible.”
McKinley did not play during the 2023 season after he was released by the Cowboys last year. He began his career with the Falcons after they selected him in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft out of UCLA.
During his six NFL seasons with the Falcons, Raiders, Browns and Rams, McKinley has registered 98 tackles and 20 sacks.
Offensive linemen Patrick Elflein, Ilm Manning, Corey Luciano, and defensive lineman Jeremy Lewis were the other players players who tried out for the Jets on Tuesday.
