The New York Jets’ preseason has had its fair share of disappointments, particularly when it comes to the performances of certain players. In their matchup against the Cleveland Browns during the Hall of Fame game, several individuals saw their stock drop as they struggled to make an impact on the field.
One player who had a difficult outing was Jason Brownlee, a wide receiver and a popular undrafted free agent. While he still has time to improve his standing on the roster, Brownlee’s first preseason game did not go as planned. Despite starting off well with a couple of connections from third-string quarterback Tim Boyle, things quickly went downhill. Brownlee had three incompletions in a row, with two of them being catchable balls that he failed to secure. His lack of strong hands was evident on a crucial play where he used his body to catch the ball, allowing the defender to break up the pass. Although Brownlee is still the favorite to win the WR6 role after the Denzel Mims trade, continued underwhelming performances could jeopardize his position on the roster.
Another area of concern for the Jets is the cornerback position, particularly for Jimmy Moreland and Craig James. Moreland had been making strides in his bid to secure a roster spot, having registered two pick-sixes in practice. However, his showing against the Browns was far from impressive. While he only allowed one catch for seven yards in limited coverage snaps, his worst play came when he failed to contain the quarterback on a touchdown rush. Similarly, James, a veteran reserve cornerback, hurt his chances of making the team when he slipped in coverage and allowed the game-winning touchdown. These lapses in performance are costly, especially for players in competitive position battles.
The Jets’ quarterbacks also faced their fair share of struggles in the game against the Browns. While Zach Wilson showed flashes of brilliance, the other quarterbacks had mixed performances. Tim Boyle and Cooper Streveler both had their ups and downs, but Streveler’s outing was particularly concerning. As the fourth-string quarterback, he finished the game with a dismal 1-of-7 completion rate, only nine passing yards, and an interception. Even if the Jets decide to keep three quarterbacks on the roster, Streveler is unlikely to be seriously considered given his underwhelming performance. Boyle, on the other hand, seemed more comfortable in the offense and finished with 6-of-11 completions for 61 passing yards.
The running backs and offensive linemen also struggled to make an impact in the game. Aside from Israel Abanikanda, Joe Tippmann, and Mekhi Becton, the rushing attack was lackluster. Undrafted rookie Travis Dye managed just 12 yards on nine attempts, while newcomer Damarea Crockett fared slightly better with seven yards on four carries. The offensive line’s run blocking performance was also subpar, with reserve blockers like Brent Laing, Chris Glaser, Adam Pankey, and Trystan Colon all receiving poor grades from Pro Football Focus. However, there were a few bright spots, with Greg Senat, Carter Warren, Becton, and Tippmann earning positive grades.
In the tight end competition, Kenny Yeboah impressed with solid blocking and two receptions for 13 yards. The rookies, E.J. Jenkins and Zack Kuntz, showed promise in different areas. Jenkins showcased his receiving ability, going two for 18, while Kuntz displayed better blocking skills and special teams contributions, according to Pro Football Focus.
Although these preseason performances are concerning for the Jets, it is important to remember that there is still time for players to improve and for the team to make roster decisions. The upcoming weeks will be crucial as players fight for their spots on the team.
