Jets’ biggest issue on display in Panthers joint practice, plus other observations
Zack Rosenblatt
SPARTANBURG, S.C. — Fans lined a hill overlooking the practice field at Wofford College, many of them wearing New York Jets gear — and there were more than a few cheeseheads in the crowd, celebrating the arrival of Aaron Rodgers. The heat was sweltering, and it was the Jets’ longest, most arduous practice of training camp so far.
Ultimately, the Carolina Panthers got the better of them Wednesday in the first of two joint practices. The Jets defense had its moments, but the offense had some struggles, mostly in the same problem area that has plagued this team throughout training camp.
Here are some observations from Wednesday, including why there’s not much optimism for change in the problem area anytime soon.
Offensive issues
Rodgers doesn’t sugarcoat things when he sees offensive issues. He thought the offense was “pretty good” Wednesday and highlighted the run blocking. Then he threw up the Jets’ biggest red flag right now: pass blocking, especially at the two tackle spots.
“In the pass game, there was some issues,” Rodgers said.
Billy Turner and Max Mitchell continue to flip-flop between left and right tackle. Wednesday, Mitchell was on the left side, Turner on the right. Mekhi Becton (more on him later) was the left tackle for Zach Wilson, as he has been for all of camp. Becton has yet to get any first-team reps.
Mitchell had a particularly rough day, especially when he was lined up across from Panthers star edge rusher Brian Burns. During 11-on-11 drills, Rodgers was visibly frustrated when Burns got past Mitchell on one rep and patted Rodgers on the back — quarterbacks can’t be hit in camp — before he could get a throw off.
“We’re just looking for consistency with those guys,” Rodgers said. “The interior has been a bright spot, pretty consistent with us. We just need more consistency on the edge.”
The edge, meaning the left and right tackle spots.
Rodgers also pointed out that there’s “a few jobs up for grabs” and said “it would be nice to see somebody over the next couple of weeks grab one of those.” The Jets are still waiting for Duane Brown (shoulder) to return. Whenever he does — Jets coach Robert Saleh is hopeful it will be soon, and confident that he’ll be ready for Week 1 — Brown will likely plug in as the starter at left tackle, leaving Mitchell and Turner as the primary options at right tackle. Turner is probably the favorite to start at this juncture.
The offensive line was at its worst at the end of practice when a Rodgers-led two-minute drill went three-and-out, which included a short completion to running back Michael Carter, a sack and an incompletion for wide receiver Randall Cobb — while pressured.
“We gotta finish better than that,” center Connor McGovern said. “That’s 100 percent on the O-line and on protection.”
The Jets also had a few too many drops. Both wide receiver Jason Brownlee and tight end Kenny Yeboah dropped passes from Wilson in seven-on-seven, while tight end Jeremy Ruckert dropped one from Rodgers in those drills. Wide receiver Mecole Hardman dropped a Rodgers pass thrown to the flat in 11-on-11.
Rodgers and Wilson, overall
Now, to Rodgers’ point, it certainly wasn’t all bad, if you discount all the pressure the quarterbacks took on. Rodgers completed most of his passes in team drills, including a few quick lasers in tight coverage — his specialty. One was thrown slightly behind tight end C.J. Uzomah but placed where only he could get it. Uzomah adjusted and caught it in the middle of the field. Rodgers had a perfect throw to Uzomah at the sideline later in practice, too.
He also hit Cobb on play action down the field, and then struck a wide-open Allen Lazard for a long touchdown (probably 60 yards) after Lazard got behind safety Xavier Woods, who misjudged the play.
Overall, I had Rodgers completing 5 of 7 passes in seven-on-seven with a touchdown thrown to Lazard, and 9 of 12 in 11-on-11, also with a touchdown to Lazard.
Wilson’s day was a little bumpier, though he didn’t ultimately get as many pass attempts, the result of heavy pressure and a run-heavy game plan. On one pass in seven-on-seven, Wilson threw a no-look pass to Yeboah. It looked like it deflected off his hands and was intercepted. It was tight coverage and a risky throw from Wilson, but catchable. In 11-on-11, backup center Wes Schweitzer had a bad snap, Wilson still grabbed it and hit wide receiver Xavier Gipson, but the rookie dropped it. On a few occasions, Wilson held onto the ball too long.
In the two-minute drill at the end of practice, Wilson threw two incompletions and then an interception to linebacker Kamu Grugier-Hill. All three throws were inaccurate.
Jets defense vs. Panthers offense
I focused mainly on the Jets offense against the Panthers defense — the views made it hard enough to watch even one field, let alone two — but I did catch a few moments throughout the day. The defense mostly held its own against Panthers rookie quarterback Bryce Young, other than the final two-minute drill.
Cornerback Brandin Echols, filling in for Sauce Gardner (quad injury), picked off Young and ran it back for a touchdown in 11-on-11. Safety Tony Adams also forced a fumble during team drills, and it seemed like the Jets defensive line was getting decent pressure.
Linebacker Quincy Williams thought the defense played “lights out” and “asserted our dominance.”
In the two-minute drill, Young calmly moved the offense up the field, getting a chunk of yards when wide receiver Adam Thieleneasily got by safety Jordan Whitehead for a big gain. Young was 5 of 7 on that drive, his last incompletion a forced throw down the field to double coverage, where both Echols and Adams broke it up. The Panthers settled for a field goal.
Rodgers had high praise for Young after practice, saying, “I like the kid a lot. I like his demeanor, I like his movement, I like the way he throws. … So I think Carolina is in good hands.”
Mekhi’s mauling
Becton is slowly working his way back into game shape. He’s still not being considered for first-team reps, and probably won’t be until/unless he’s able to get through a full practice or game reps. That didn’t happen again Wednesday, as Becton sat out the final two-minute drill. Until that point, Becton had participated in every rep, 17 in total, and played well. Especially in the run game: On one rep early in 11-on-11, blocking for Wilson, Becton flattened Panthers outside linebacker Eku Leota into the ground.
“Every day is important for him,” Saleh said before practice. “He’s making progress. He’s getting a lot better. … (Wednesday) is going to be the heaviest workload that we put on our guys all camp and as we continue to build for Week 1. Today is going to be a good test for him and the confidence he has in his knee.
“There is no one denying the talent,” Saleh continued. “The talent part and evaluating his ability to go play-to-play and dominate his one-on-ones isn’t even (an issue). It’s evaluating and making sure he’s in the right headspace, confident in his knee so he can build to what he think he can be.”
GO DEEPER
Zach Wilson on the right track, Mekhi Becton's return and other Jets takeaways
Miscellaneous takeaways
• Rodgers won’t play in Saturday’s game against the Panthers. Wilson and Tim Boylewill get the reps, the only two quarterbacks remaining after Chris Streveler reverted to injured reserve after going unclaimed on waivers.
• In addition to Gardner, defensive end Carl Lawson (lower back), cornerback Bryce Hall(unknown) and linebacker Chazz Surratt(unknown) didn’t practice. Saleh said that Gardner and Lawson, who has missed three practices in a row, didn’t practice for precautionary reasons. Wide receiver Garrett Wilson (ankle) returned to practice but didn’t participate in team drills.
• In seven-on-seven, Boyle had a nice throw to undrafted rookie tight end E.J. Jenkins, who rumbled down the field for a big gain.
• For the first time in camp, rookie center Joe Tippmann got some reps snapping to Wilson. Those had been reserved for Schweitzer or McGovern. Tippmann played well against the Cleveland Browns in the Hall of Fame Game and is making progress.
• The Jets claimed offensive tackle Grant Hermanns off waivers from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Wednesday and waived/injured tackle Yodny Cajuste. Hermanns spent time in 2021-22 with the Jets, playing some snaps to start last season before getting cut.
(Photo: Mike Stewart / Associated Press)
