4 questions ahead of Jets OTA practices this week
Monday marked the beginning of voluntary organized team activities for 20 teams, including the Jets. The Jets will also hold mandatory minicamps from June 13-15 before having a five-week break before the start of training camp near the end of July. With the addition of Aaron Rodgers, the Jets have been projected not only to make the playoffs for the first time...
Monday marked the beginning of voluntary organized team activities (OTAs) for 20 teams, including the Jets.
Although Gang Green has been participating in on-field work since last month, the OTA portion of the offseason will be a bit different. Phase Three of the offseason will allow the Jets to get on the field for non-contact practices.
That will consist of three weeks of practices without full pads. However, teams can have 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills without contact. The Jets will also hold mandatory minicamps from June 13-15 before having a five-week break before the start of training camp near the end of July.
The media will have availability access during four OTA practices beginning on Tuesday. Here are the four areas worth watching during the next few weeks.
How does Rodgers look in his new neighborhood?
With the addition of Aaron Rodgers, the Jets have been projected not only to make the playoffs for the first time since 2010, but possibly to contend for the Super Bowl.
Of course, the Jets are far from being ready to play a game in May. With a new team for the first time in 19 years, how fast can Rodgers gain chemistry with his new teammates?
Playing in an offense Rodgers is familiar with will help him, as Nathaniel Hackett is now the Jets offensive coordinator following his one-year coaching stint at Denver. Also, adding Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb will give Rodgers some familiar faces to throw to.
The question is how much Rodgers will participate in OTAs. In April, Rodgers said he wouldn’t be 100% there for the entire offseason program, but would be “there as much as he can possibly can.”
Breece Hall’s progress following injury last year?
Last October, Gang Green lost the heart and soul of its offense when Hall tore his ACL and missed the remainder of the season. The Jets only won two games following Hall’s injury, so needless to say, he is an essential piece to their offense.
Earlier this offseason, Jets coach Robert Saleh said, “Breece looks fantastic.” If Hall can return to the form he displayed prior to his injury, that will give the Jets another element to their offense, especially after all their additions.
In seven games, Hall rushed for 463 yards and four touchdowns, he also recorded 19 catches for 218 yards and a touchdown.
Can Becton reclaim starting left tackle spot again?
Mekhi Becton clearly wants his old starting job back. The question is can he earn it beginning in OTAs?
Nearly three weeks ago, Becton tweeted, “I. AM. A. LEFT. TACKLE!!!” He later deleted the tweet.
Saleh was asked about Becton’s feelings about where he should play.
“Go earn the left tackle,” Saleh said. “Competition.”
After a fantastic rookie season, Becton’s career been shadowed by injuries recently. During the 2021 season opener, Becton suffered a right kneecap injury against the Panthers. He was scheduled to miss only four to five weeks, but Becton missed the rest of that season after having surgery.
Becton returned for the 2022 training camp, but he injured his right knee again and missed the entire year. When he injured his knee during practice, Becton played right tackle instead of left tackle, where he played the previous two years for the Jets.
Becton criticized the Jets coaching staff for putting him at right tackle in an article released by Newsday over the weekend.
Since his last knee injury, Becton has lost more than 50 pounds and gotten into the best shape of his career. However, that didn’t stop the Jets from declining Becton’s fifth-year option, as 2023 will be the final year of his contract.
Duane Brown was the Jets’ starting left tackle a year ago after signing him after Becton’s injury, but he also turns 38 in August and is returning from offseason shoulder surgery. Becton winning the left tackle job would be the best thing for the Jets, but he will have to earn it after all the missed time the last two years.
How much does Williams’ absence linger over team?
Jets defensive tackle Quinnen Williams is clearly not happy with his contract situation, as shown last week when he scrubbed the Jets from his Twitter account. He also has in his bio “Defensive Tackle for ………….”
Williams is not expected to be present for OTAs as he is in the final year of his rookie contract, scheduled to pay him $9.5 million. In January, Williams told reporters he would not attend the
Jets’ optional offseason program without a contract extension.
Sources told the Daily News that Williams is looking for a contract that would make him the second-highest-paid defensive tackle in the NFL at around $25 million. Last season, Williams was arguably the Jets best player after recording 55 tackles and 12 sacks.
How much will Williams’ absence linger over a Jets defense that finished fourth in the league in points and yards allowed in 2022?
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