The New York Jets are back playing football. While it is preseason football, and what happens record-wise doesn’t matter, it is still great to see them play in the football game. They faced the Green Bay Packers and dominated them 30-10. It was a great start in the Aaron Glenn era for the Jets. There were so many players that stood out for the New York Jets, and five come to mind, rewatching the game.
1. DT Jay Tufele
One of the major issues with the New York Jets was how awful their run defense was. That is why the Jets took chances on players like Jay Tufele to fix it. What a way to make a first impression, as he was dominant all game, especially rushing the passer. He had 1.5 sacks in the game and even scored a touchdown after recovering a fumble. It was also funny seeing him and Glenn on the sidelines in the aftermath. Tufele shone, and if he keeps this up, then he should make the roster.
2. DT Leonard Taylor
Got to put Leonard Taylor on this list. The reason was that he forced a fumble he caused trying to sack Malik Willis. That move brought the wow factor to the team. The moment that happened, it felt like the momentum shifted for the Jets, and the Packers never recovered. Along with his ability to stop the run, Taylor made an impact in this game and impressed the coaching staff.
3. CB Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner
This was the first time that Gardner had played since receiving that gigantic contract in the offseason. Many fans were nervous about giving him that big contract due to his struggles last season, including tackling. In the brief appearance he had in this game, Gardner played well. He also made a couple of nice tackles and has shown improvement in his technique. Hopefully, he can keep improving.
4. TE/FB Andrew Beck
Justin Fields looked solid in the snaps he had as the Jets QB. Surprisingly, the receiver who was his favorite target in that game was Andrew Beck. He only made 2 receptions for 36 yards, but it is clear there is some solid chemistry built up. It is not just as a receiving threat where he impressed; he made some solid blocks in this game. Compared to Jeremy Ruckert, Beck performed a lot better overall, and he has a legit chance to make the roster as a fullback/tight end.
5. QB Adrian Martinez
There was a bunch of great QB play in this game for the Jets. Fields was solid, and Brady Cook looked serviceable. However, it was Martinez who impressed the most out of everyone in the QB room. He put up some solid stats with completing 11-of-16, 152 passing yards, and a passing touchdown. While Martinez is a long shot to make the roster, performances like that will get other teams to take a chance on him, whether in the UFL, CFL, or other practice squads.
Final Thoughts
Overall, it was a great day for the Jets locker room and the Jets fanbase. This was a phenomenal start for this squad, and now they have to back it up in the battle of MetLife. They take on the New York Giants in Week 2 of the preseason, and hopefully, they shine yet again. For more NFL content, check out Total Apex Sports, which covers news, transactions, etc.
