After losing QB Aaron Rodgers to injury just four snaps into his New York Jets tenure Monday night, the team showed remarkable resolve to win a dramatic game 22-16 in overtime.

Trailing 13-3 at the half, the Jets staged a stunning second-half rally without their star QB, who was making his first regular season start with the Green & White.

After kicker Tyler Bass tied the game for the Bills in the final seconds of regulation as the ball kissed the left post and bounced through the uprights, rookie WR Xavier Gipson returned a punt 65 yards in front of a delirious MetLife crowd for the game-winning score in the extra period.

Head coach Robert Saleh told reporters after the game the team fears Rodgers sustained an Achilles tear. Zach Wilson replaced Rodgers and finished the game for the Jets and will take over the offensive reins heading into Sunday’s matchup at Dallas.

“I thought he was awesome,” Saleh said of Wilson’s performance in Week 1 in which he threw for 140 yards, 1 touchdown and 1 interception.

“He had a couple big third-down throws, clutch throws to extend drives and score points. I thought he commanded the huddle, line of scrimmage, he scrambled for a big one. He threw the interception, still bounced back. It didn’t snowball into anything big. We still have a lot of faith in him. I think we’ve proven that by keeping him here and continuing to invest in him. Excited for him and his opportunity.”

The Jets defense repeatedly got after Bills QB Josh Allen, forcing the star into four turnovers as safety Jordan Whitehead led the way with a remarkable three-interception game – the first of his career.

Wide receiver Garrett Wilson had an amazing 3-yard TD grab from Zach Wilson in the fourth quarter to help the Jets tie the game and then Greg Zeurlein’s third field goal of the night — a 33-yarder — gave New York’s AFC representative a 16-13 lead they held until Bass’ FG at the end of regulation.

Running back Breece Hall, who tore his ACL in his rookie season, was fabulous in his return to game action. His 83-yard run in the second quarter set up the Jets’ first points of the season, a 26-yard Zeurlein field goal.

He also added a 20-yard reception on the offense’s second scoring drive that ended with Zeurlein’s 43-yard field goal that cut the deficit to 13-6. He ended the game with 127 yards rushing on just 10 carries.

The Jets got the start they wanted, forcing a punt on the Bills’ first series. Then Hall exploded for 26 yards on the Jets’ first play from scrimmage. But two plays later, Rodgers was sacked by Buffalo edge rusher Leonard Floyd and spun around for a 10-yard loss. The four-time NFL MVP attempted to get back on his feet but crumpled to the ground. Rodgers hobbled to the blue medical tent before exiting on a cart.

“Personally, I don’t hurt for me, I don’t hurt for our locker room, I hurt for Aaron and how much he’s invested in all of this,” Saleh said. “I’m still going to say a prayer, we’re still going to hold out hope, but my heart is with Aaron right now and nowhere else.”

The Jets went on a 13-point run in the second half as the defence began to swarm Bills QB Josh Allen and they were able to force an immediate three-and-out after losing the overtime coin toss.

Linebacker Quincy Williams (10) and CB D.J. Reed (11) combined for 21 tackles and the Jets were credited with 5 sacks. Former Bills DL Quinton Jefferson led the way with 2 QB takedowns.

On a special night, the Jets won it with a special play in overtime as Gipson’s dramatics ended a wild affair.

“I’m going to speak for our entire locker room and say we knew he was going to get one today,” Saleh said. “We just had a feeling. That kid is electric with the ball in his hands. If I’m a team, I’m not kicking to him, but let him keep proving it. I think none of us in the locker room are surprised that he took one.”

The arrival of four-time NFL Most Valuable Player Aaron Rodgers has been the talk of the town in New York this summer. And with the future Hall of Fame quarterback on board, Jets fans are dreaming of a first Super Bowl appearance since the 1968 season.

Putting the rather gigantic Rodgers news to one side for a moment, this Jets team would have garnered plenty of attention in their own right this season. They showed great signs of promise in 2022, boasting some exciting young players including the Offensive Rookie of the Year in wide receiver Garrett Wilson and the Defensive Rookie of the Year in cornerback Sauce Gardner.

But Rodgers taking charge of an offense that ranked 29th in scoring a year ago has raised expectations to a new level. A return to the playoffs for the first time since the 2010 campaign should be on the cards and why not put the Jets in that Super Bowl conversation?

It won’t be an easy start out of the gate in what promises to be a fiercely-competitive AFC East as the Buffalo Bills head into the Big Apple on what is sure to be an emotionally-charged atmosphere on September 11.

The Jets can certainly take heart from the fact they beat the Bills 20-17 in New York in Week 9 last season. These are the kind of games the Jets are going to need to win if they are to prove they are for real. So, while one game does not make a season, this will be a chance for the Jets to lay down a marker and make the rest of the AFC sit up and take notice.

New York Jets Player to Watch

Dalvin Cook – Running Back… Aaron Rodgers would have been the obvious one, but I’m fascinated to see how Dalvin Cook is mixed into the New York offense as fellow running back Breece Hall works his way back from the knee injury that prematurely ended his rookie season. Cook was deemed surplus to requirements in Minnesota so the NFL world will be watching to see what the 28-year-old has to offer. To have any doubt at all about his chances of success feels disrespectful – Cook is a four-time Pro Bowler with four straight 1,100-yard rushing seasons under his belt. He will make a positive impact in New York.

Buffalo Bills Player to Watch

Josh Allen – Quarterback… There is no doubt that Allen is the driving force of the Bills and the cannon-armed passer who can also hurdle defenders and make key runs downfield has firmly established himself as one of the very best in the game. He is a talent who can change games on his own. Allen won 52 regular season games in his first five years in the NFL – the most ever for a player before the age of 27. And from 2020 to 2022, Allen accounted for 130 touchdowns – most in the NFL during that span.

Stat Attack!

Do the Jets have Josh Allen’s number? Against all other teams last year, Buffalo’s star quarterback threw for an average of 280.8 yards per game and posted a QB rating of 100.5. In those games, Allen was sacked an average of 1.8 times. In two games against the Jets, Allen averaged just 176.0 passing yards per game and had a rating of 64.4. He was sacked an average of 4.0 times per game when facing the Jets.

Keys to the game

The impact of Rodgers has to be felt on the offensive side of the ball, that’s for sure. How he connects week in and week out with the likes of Garrett Wilson, Allen Lazard and Mecole Hardman will be key and I think we’re going to see that there is plenty of life in the old dog yet. The same can be said for the ground attack because there has to be balance in the New York attack. Will it be Dalvin Cook-led in Week 1 or can Breece Hall be impactful out of the gate? Much of the offensive success will depend on a unit with the most questions marks… the offensive line!

Over on defense, the Jets have to get pressure on Allen and make him uncomfortable. New York certainly have the quarterback hunters to do just that. And if Sauce Gardner can shut down Stefon Diggs, Allen and the Bills could be in for a difficult night. New York will look to frustrate Allen and make him impatient, forcing him to take risks in the passing game. When that happens, the Jets must strike against a quarterback who has thrown an NFL-high 29 interceptions over the last two seasons.

We’ve waited a long time, but finally, it’s game week. The quest for the playoffs starts on Monday against the Buffalo Bills, with the atmosphere set to be electric inside Metlife Stadium. The Bills have won the AFC East each of the last three years, and it’ll be up to the Jets to displace one of the highest-ranked teams in the NFL.

If you want to beat a team like the Bills, a lot of things need to go right. All three facets of the game need to work in unison, but within each unit, there are key matchups to watch, and in today’s column I wanted to highlight three of them.

I’m going to try and avoid the obvious. If Aaron Rodgers plays how Aaron Rodgers can play and Garrett Wilson plays how Garrett Wilson can play, good things are going to happen. But are there some under-the-radar matchups that could be the key to victory? That’s what we’re trying to identify here.

Randall Cobb

Cobb is entering his 13th year in the league, and he’ll have spent 11 of those years catching passes from Aaron Rodgers. That’s 130 games, 764 targets, 532 receptions, 6,316 yards and 47 touchdowns, most of which were played alongside Aaron. That’s a lot of experience and a lot of chemistry.

Most of the focus will be on Garrett Wilson and his budding relationship with Rodgers, but Cobb could be key to unlocking the Bills’ defence.

The Bills had one of the best defences in football last year, ranking second in the league in terms of points allowed (286); only the San Francisco 49ers were stingier (277).

Over the course of his entire career, Cobb has spent 83.1% of his snaps in the slot and there’s a good chance that continues with the Jets. This means he’ll draw the majority of his coverage from Taron Johnson, an incredibly talented player, but an area the Jets can exploit.

Johnson allowed 623 yards and 7 touchdowns into his coverage last year according to PFF, with 376 yards coming after the catch. QBs had a 107.9 passer rating when throwing into his coverage, and with the chemistry between Rodgers and Cobb, this is a matchup that on paper looks favourable.

Jermaine Johnson

A big part of stopping the Bills is stopping Josh Allen, one of the most dangerous multidimensional quarterbacks in football. If he’s not hurting you through the air, then he’s hurting you on the ground.

Jermaine Johnson showed his ability to contain Josh Allen last year with his sideline shoestring tackle, and now he’ll be looking to do even more in the 2023 curtain raiser.

Johnson has been praised this preseason for both his physical and mental progress in terms of his game, and the Bills offer a stern initial test.

Considering he spent the majority of his rookie season on the left side of the line, he’ll be drawing the matchup against Buffalo RT Spencer Brown, a player who was tagged with 4 sacks and 42 pressures allowed last year. Brown is a towering 6’8 and has the potential to overwhelm the best pass-rushers, but Jermaine Johnson has the speed/power combination to cause problems.

I’d expect to see the Bills counter with extra blockers, doubles and chips from the running backs. But JJ could be the key to unsettling Josh Allen. The Bills QB doesn’t have a lot of weaknesses, but his turnover-worthy play rate of 6.1% when pressured was ranked 23rd out of 32 qualified QBs (minimum 100 dropbacks).

Tony Adams

One of the real feel-good stories of the offseason, Adams fought his way onto the roster last year as a UDFA out of Illinois and will now enter the 2023 season as a starter.

Sauce Gardner and DJ Reed will draw the outside assignments against superstar Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis, although the Bills could move Diggs into the slot to avoid Sauce as much as possible (Diggs was used in the slot on 34.1% of his snaps last year).

With the coverage outside, there’s a chance that Buffalo uses more tight-end heavy personnel to get Dawson Knox and rookie Dalton Kincaid on the field together; this will put a lot of pressure on the Jets safeties.

Knox is coming off a fine year where he caught 48 balls for 517 yards and 6 touchdowns. He’s now joined by Kincaid who enjoyed a stellar final year in Utah. The rookie caught 66 passes for 850 yards and 8 touchdowns in Salt Lake City last year.

Tony Adams has all the athleticism you could want in a safety, and his ability to lock down or limit the production from the tight ends will go a long way to determining the result in this game.

Coaches hate this week of the preseason. It’s when the business side of football takes over, players who have worked their entire lives for an opportunity have their dreams dashed.

It’s hard.

On a human level, you have to say goodbye to people you’ve been around for months, people you’ve worked with, laughed with, shared meals with, day in and day out. While there is genuine excitement for the season, there is also real sadness.

But amongst all those difficult conversations, there are ones that you’d like to bottle up and replay over and over again. I imagine for Coach Saleh, two of those conversations this week were with undrafted free agents, (UDFAs) Xavier Gipson and Jason Brownlee.

“They called me, I came down and then they tricked me into believing I was gonna get released…[Saleh] said ‘I’m sorry…you made the team’” – Gipson

On 259 occasions during this year’s draft, a team approached the podium with an opportunity to select wide receivers Gipson or Brownlee. On 259 occasions, the teams passed on that opportunity.

If they want to look for further encouragement in their journey, they don’t have to look too far. Allen Lazard, Kenny Yeboah and Irvin Charles all went undrafted at different points and all made the Jets’ initial 53-man roster on offence – Yeboah has since been placed on IR.

Lazard in particular is an example worth trying to replicate. The former Green Bay Packer was a UDFA out of Iowa State in 2018 despite enjoying a productive four years in Ames. He finished his Cyclone career with 241 receptions, 3,360 yards and 26 touchdowns, yet failed to hear his name called over draft weekend.

He was then cut by the Jacksonville Jaguars during his rookie training camp and picked up by the Packers for their practice squad. Eventually, after having to be patient his rookie year, he worked his way up the Green Bay depth chart and finished his time in Wisconsin with a 2022 season that saw him catch 60 balls for 788 yards and 6 touchdowns.

First round picks often get the plaudits and the excitement, but the anatomy of an NFL roster means that your ability to spot talent further down the draft and amongst the pool of UDFAs is what separates some of the good teams from the great ones.

Besides the players mentioned above, the Jets will also carry a number of other UDFAs on the roster. Bryce Huff, Justin Hardee and Tony Adams were all players who failed to find a home through the draft process, and all of those players will play a key role for the Jets in 2023.

“It feels good, we came in together, we played at the NFLPA game together, so we already had a bond and just to make the team with him, knowing all the hard work we put in every day here. Just making sure we’re holding each other accountable at practice and even in the film room, so it feels good to know I’ve got my dog with me and I ain’t gotta go through it by myself” – Brownlee on making the team with Gipson

You don’t have to be a UDFA to be a feel-good story. Speaking to Jets fans, one name continued to come up when I asked about players they wanted to see make the roster.

Chazz Surratt.

Out of high school, Surratt was initially recruited to North Carolina as a quarterback but struggled to find consistency while working through injury. When highly touted QB Sam Howell arrived at Chapel Hill, Surratt had a choice to make, transfer and follow the quarterback dream or switch to defence and play linebacker.

He opted to stay and that decision was validated immediately.

In his first year as a linebacker, he racked up over 100 tackles with 15 for a loss, 6.5 sacks and an interception. The year after that he had 90+ tackles, 6 sacks and an interception.

It’s easy to see why the Minnesota Vikings chose to spend a third-round pick on him in 2021, especially when you add in his lightning-fast 4.59 speed in the 40-yard dash.

Things didn’t work out for Surratt in Minnesota, largely because it was believed he was unsuitable for former defensive coordinator Ed Donatell’s system. The Vikings loss was the Jets gain. Having spent a year on the practice squad getting to grips with the Jeff Ulbrich/Robert Saleh system, Surratt was able to play free and fast this preseason. His interception against Cleveland came to the obvious delight of Coach Saleh.

All of these players are a testament to the phrase ‘it’s not where you start, it’s where you finish’. Their journeys are nowhere near being complete, but they’re certainly on track.

When Robert Saleh took to the podium following the Jets 13-6 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers he said there was “a lot of good tape that we can look at”. When he flips on the tape for the defence, he won’t have to wait too long.

On the very first defensive play of the game, a Jets defensive lineman shot the gap as a 3-tech penetrating into the backfield, using Tampa tight end Cade Otton as a battering ram to tackle his own running back for a 5-yard loss.

That in short, is what Quinton Jefferson brings to this football team.

Jefferson has only appeared in 21 snaps over two games so far this preseason, but he’s left his mark. His tackle for a loss against Tampa Bay was a fitting follow-up to his sack of Bryce Young last week against Carolina.

Not content to have a litany of defensive ends rotating on the outside, the Jets moved to improve their interior as well. Not only did they sign Jefferson who was coming off a career year in Seattle, but they also signed Al Woods as that dominating run-stuffer.

Jefferson not only racked up 5.5 sacks last year, but according to PFF, he generated 43 pressures. Two of those sacks last year came against the Jets, which clearly left a lasting impression on Robert Saleh and Joe Douglas.

Being able to penetrate the gaps ensures that there are no easy yards, it closes running lanes quickly, moves the QB off his placement and disrupts his reads. If the Jets can force the running backs to move horizontally it will open up opportunities for linebackers C.J Mosley, Quincy Williams and Jamien Sherwood to funnel to the football. It’ll also open opportunities for safeties Tony Adams and Jordan Whitehead to come downhill with authority and make statement plays.

Jefferson has been doing this for a long time. Having been a 5th round-pick out of Maryland back in 2016, he’s spent much of his career on the west coast with Seattle, with quick pit stops in Buffalo (2020) and Las Vegas (2021). Over seven years, he’s carefully honed his craft with the last two years being the most productive of his career.

In 34 games over that time period, Jefferson has 93 pressures, 10 sacks, 11 tackles for a loss, 76 total tackles, 2 forced fumbles and 3 pass defences. He’s also been completely healthy, and you know what they say about the best ability being availability.

He now gets to play next to one of the premier defensive tackles in football, Quinnen Williams, who, fresh off his contract renewal, will be looking to build on his dominating performance last season.

When you generate 12 sacks, 52 pressures and 12 tackles for a loss in 16 games, you’re going to draw attention. Quinnen draws double and triple teams by defensive coordinators trying to nullify his threat, which opens up opportunities for everyone else.

As week one draws ever closer, excitement continues to build around the 2023 NFL season, as the New York Jets look to make some noise in the AFC East.

There will be no gentle introduction to the season for the team, as they play on Monday Night Football against reigning division champs the Buffalo Bills at MetLife Stadium in week one.

Contests with the Dallas Cowboys, New England Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs in the weeks that follow will ensure that it’s a must-watch start to the season for the green and white in their pursuit of a first playoff berth in over a decade.

For fans in the United Kingdom, there are a number of ways to watch the Jets this season. Let’s run through them.

Sky Sports

Sky Sports will continue to be the home of the NFL on TV during the 2023 season, showing all primetime games: Thursday Night Football, Sunday Night Football, Monday Night Football and – importantly – the first ever Black Friday Game.

Alongside these late-night offerings, Sky also shows two games during the earlier window on a Sunday, at 6pm and 9pm UK time with the exception of week 8 when the end of British Summer Time pulls the NFL schedule forward by one hour.

These games are selected on a week-by-week basis meaning it’s unclear at this stage which of the Jets games will be shown live on Sky, but with six games in primetime over the course of the season, there will be plenty of guaranteed opportunities to watch them in action either way – as long as you’re willing to sacrifice some sleep.

Sky Sports will also be airing Hard Knocks, One Jets Drive and other Jets programming over the course of the 2023 season.

NFL Game Pass

NFL Game Pass has long been the all-access home for fans of the sport in the United Kingdom, and this season it has moved to a new host: DAZN.

A subscription offers fans access to all NFL games live and on-demand, with the sole exceptions of the Sunday 6pm and 9pm games selected on Sky Sports which are not available to watch live on Game Pass.

ITV

ITV is the NFL’s free-to-air partner here in the United Kingdom, with the rights to show highlights throughout the season as well as broadcasting London Games and the Super Bowl live.

talkSPORT

talkSPORT are the UK radio partner of the Jets, and will be broadcasting 13+ games over the airwaves over the course of the 2023 season.

Specific game broadcasts will be shared ahead of time on our website and socials for those planning to listen along.

Social Media

For those on the move or just looking for an additional way to connect with Jets fans, you can find gameday coverage on the New York Jets UK Twitter and Instagram channels all season – make sure to check in each week you’re able to join us!

New York Jets Announce Partnership with Sportsbreaks.com, a United Kingdom Based Global Sports Travel Business

The deal is the first between an NFL team and a Match Break partner, and marks the club’s first exclusive United Kingdom Partnership

August 22, 2023 – The agreement between The New York Jets and Sportsbreaks.com, a global sports travel business based in Manchester, England, who offers ticket-inclusive packages to many of the world’s top sporting events, makes the company an official partner of the NFL club in the United Kingdom. This partnership will allow New York Jets fans in the UK to watch their favorite team at MetLife Stadium while seeing the sights of New York.

“We’re excited to partner with Sportsbreaks.com to give our international fans a unique opportunity to enjoy the Jets gameday experience at MetLife Stadium,” said Ian Lasher, Jets SVP, Corporate Partnerships. “Partnering with Sportsbreaks.com, a business with a wealth of knowledge in the sports travel industry, allows us to continue reaching and impacting our fans across the globe. We pride ourselves in bridging the gap with our passionate fanbase in the United Kingdom, expanding our partnerships worldwide, and giving our fans access to New York Jets experience.”

In connection with the UK fan gameday packages, the partnership includes Sportsbreaks.com sponsorship of the Jets in UK digital Fan Hub which includes team information, event updates, exclusive content, and promotional giveaways for UK-based Jets fans. Both Sportsbreaks.com and the Jets will collaborate to engage all of the team’s fans in the UK with digital programmatic advertising and posts on Jets UK social media channels (@NYJetsinUK on X, @NewYorkJetsinUK on Instagram). This partnership builds upon Sportsbreaks.com’s existing relationship with NFL UK where it offers official ticket and hotel breaks to the NFL London Games.

“We are proud of our longstanding relationship with the NFL and as the Sportsbreaks.com brand continues to grow, we are excited to develop relationships with its teams, starting with the Jets,” said Sportsbreaks.com Managing Director, Rob Slawson. “From the outset, we were excited by the New York Jets plans to engage with and grow their UK fanbase as part of the NFL’s Global Markets Program. We look forward to supporting these plans and providing Jets fans with an opportunity to watch their team at MetLife Stadium in the years to come. New York is already one of the world’s most in-demand tourist destinations but throw in the chance to watch the Jets at MetLife Stadium and I can’t think of many better weekends for a football fan.” For UK fan gameday packages to New York Jets games via Sportsbreaks.com, visit sportsbreaks.com/NFL/New-York-Jets

The Jets were awarded international marketing rights to the United Kingdom in 2022 as part of the NFL’s Global Markets Program initiative. The initiative provided all 32 NFL clubs the right to pursue and bid on international markets with the goal of globally expanding the game of American football.

About Sportsbreaks.com

Sportsbreaks.com is an award-winning sports travel business offering ticket-inclusive packages to many of the world’s top sporting events including European soccer, Rugby World Cup and numerous Formula 1 races. Within football, Sportsbreaks.com counts an existing presence via its relationship as official Match Break Sponsor of the NFL, offering ticket and hotel breaks to the NFL London Games.

About the New York Jets

The New York Jets were founded in 1959 as the New York Titans, an original member of the American Football League (AFL). The Jets won Super Bowl III, defeating the NFL’s Baltimore Colts in 1969. In 1970, the franchise joined the National Football League in the historic AFL–NFL merger that set the foundation for today’s league. As part of a commitment to its fan base through innovation and experiences, the team has created initiatives such as, its trailblazing Jets Rewards program, a state-of-the-art mobile app, and Jets 360 Productions, a comprehensive content platform that gives fans greater access to the team across all digital and social platforms. The organization takes great pride in a long-standing, year-round commitment to their community. These programs are funded by the New York Jets Foundation and look to positively influence the lives of young men and women in the tri-state area, particularly in disadvantaged communities. The organization supports the efforts of the Lupus Research Alliance, youth football and numerous established charitable organizations and causes sponsored by the NFL. The New York Jets play in MetLife Stadium, which opened in 2010, and are headquartered at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center in Florham Park, New Jersey. For more information about the New York Jets visit newyorkjets.com.

“Obviously, you never want to say no to a great player.”

Those were the words of Jets coach Robert Saleh back in the middle of July when he was asked about four-time Pro Bowl running back Dalvin Cook. Fast-forward to today, and that great player is officially a New York Jet. With his addition, the Jets now possess one of the deepest and most threatening running back rotations in football.

The good news for the running back room continued with the news that second-year player Breece Hall has officially been activated from the Physically Unable to Play (PUP) list, and will now (slowly) take part in practice sessions in an effort to ramp up for the new season. Coach Saleh said the team was “very confident” that Breece would be ready for week one against Buffalo and that Cook’s addition didn’t change the timeline.

What it does do is create a whole lot of problems for defensive coordinators.

Some may struggle to understand the need, but as Coach Saleh said, “I look at it like our d-line (defensive line), you can never have enough and just let them rotate and be fresh and get downhill and wear people out.

Back in 2020, with Nathaniel Hackett and Aaron Rodgers calling the shots for the Green Bay offence, the Packers used 21 personnel (2 running backs) on 14% of all plays, double the league average. They used Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams to create a matchup nightmare for opposing defensive coordinators.

That year, those two players combined for 320 carries, 1,609 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground, and 78 receptions, 591 yards and 3 touchdowns through the air. The Jets, thanks to their depth, will be able to run multiple variations throughout the game, keeping players fresh, physical and fast.

But what does Dalvin Cook bring to the franchise in 2023?

You can’t talk about Dalvin now without talking about Dalvin’s record. Four Pro Bowls, four straight seasons of 1000+ rushing yards, 52 NFL touchdowns, and a whole lot of experience.

It’s never a bad thing to add experience to a room. Despite the obvious talent, the Jets running back room was and is a very young group. Breece is heading into year two with just half a season of on-field experience, Israel (Izzy) Abanikanda is a rookie, and Michael Carter is heading into year three. Dalvin has nearly 1,300 rushing attempts to his name. He’s seen every formation and every defensive philosophy designed to stop and control the rushing attack, and he’s developed ways to beat it.

He’s also one of the most physical presences. “He’s not a trick back either. You can turn around and hand him the ball and he can run downhill and he’s done it for a long time”, as Coach Saleh said.

Last year, only three players had more rushing yards after contact than Cook (842); he also forced 51 missed tackles, using his speed/power combination to good effect. He ranked inside the top 10 in terms of explosive plays with 30 attempts that went for 10+ yards, with 12 of those going for 15+ yards.

Coach Saleh mentioned that the plan for the running-back room was clearly communicated to the players before the signing to ensure that everyone was on the same page. Cook, Hall, Carter, Izzy and Zonovan (Bam) Knight all bring certain skill sets that can be utilised in different ways.

For years, Cook had to act as the Minnesota bell cow, carrying the load. Here, he’ll be part of an extremely talented rotation, enabling him to do what he does best – to be a home-run threat every time he touches the ball.

Undrafted free agents (UDFAs) tend to make up between 20-30% of active NFL teams every year. Hitting on a first-round pick will justify the investment, but nothing is more satisfying than striking gold with a UDFA.

The Jets have a number of promising players from this year’s UDFA pool with Jason Brownlee turning heads at camp, Xavier Gipson’s speed being noticeable, and Trey Dean  hitting anything and everything that moved during the Browns game.

But the biggest and best surprise of Training Camp so far may come in the form of Tony Adams, a UDFA out of Illinois that joined the Jets last offseason, made the team, and then went from strength to strength when given the opportunity to get on the field.

This summer he’s continued to build on last season’s momentum, making a number of impressive plays. When asked about Adams in a press conference, Coach Saleh said that the cat was out of the bag when it comes to Adams, meaning his secret success is secret no more.

In the run-up to the draft, Adams put on a show at every stop. His Relative Athletic Score, a metric which tests speed, agility, explosion and size, came in at 9.76 out of 10. That number would have ranked him #3 at CB, #3 at FS, and #1 at SS in his draft class.

He was also coming off a college career where he posted 206 tackles, 11.5 for a loss, 3 sacks, 6 interceptions and 1 forced fumble.

So how did a guy who’s incredibly athletic and incredibly productive go undrafted?

The answer to that question is based on his versatility as Coach Saleh relayed in his press conference:

“In Tony’s case, he’s so smart and so versatile, that he played a lot of different positions at Illinois and while that’s great for Illinois, it kind of hides the player a little bit.”

Adams was a Swiss army knife in the defence of Lovie Smith for the majority of his time in Champaign, Illinois.

When he first arrived at Illinois he became the first true Freshman to start at outside corner in over a decade, and considering he’d recently suffered a torn ACL while playing at St. Louis University High School, that’s impressive.

His freshman year he suffered another season-ending injury, this time to his shoulder, another setback, and another hurdle that Adams cleared with the kind of perseverance that turns a UDFA into a starting NFL defender.

According to PFF statistics, Adams spent over 250 snaps in the box, over 450 snaps as a free safety, over 350 snaps as a slot corner and over 1000 snaps as an outside corner.

There’s versatility, and then there is Tony Adams. He was asked to wear so many hats, teams didn’t know which hat fit him best, and sometimes when you move around a lot, it’s difficult to get a consensus.

That worked to the Jets advantage, as they were able to snag him once the draft was done. His performance in last year’s camp ensured he made the roster, and now he’s in competition with Ashtyn Davis and veteran Adrian Amos for the starting free safety position, and I don’t think it’s unreasonable to say he’s leading the way.

Coach Saleh was asked about Adams last week, following an impressive performance running with the first-team defence:

His mental makeup. He checks all the boxes physically, he’s got red line, the red line speed, he’s physical in the box. He’s got great instincts in the run game. He’s got great fuel in the passing, he checks all that stuff.

There’s a lot of people in this League who check those boxes, but there’s only a few that check his mental makeup and everything about him. He’s excited about everything. You see him in a special teams drill, he’s talking crap, you see him in individual, he’s talking, he just loves being out there.

He loves ball. He loves the process. He loves everything, so as long as he keeps that drive and that love for football and that childlike love and enthusiasm, I think he will be alright.

A few days later he grabbed the social media headlines again as he picked off Aaron Rodgers on a deep pass over the middle.

That’s where he’ll make his money for the Jets. Using his explosion and speed to close windows and make plays on the ball.

When asked in college to name his favourite athlete, he said Kobe Bryant, not because of his skill but because “of his mindset and his work ethic.” Which says everything you need to know about Adams.

We didn’t get the chance to see Adams last week against the Browns, as he did not dress, along with the starters, this week he should receive some playing time against Carolina, and if training camp is anything to go by, Bryce Young better keep his eyes peeled for #22 lurking in centre field.

With Kwon Alexander signing a one-year deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers, we have confirmation that there will be a new starting weakside linebacker roaming the field with the Jets’ base defence when the Buffalo Bills roll into town in week one.

Coach Saleh was asked about the competition for that vacant spot, and he confirmed that it’s all to play for: “We do have a really good competition going on for that third spot with Nas (Hamsah Nasirildeen) and Sherwood, along with Z (Zaire Barnes).”

Jamien Sherwood has had to be patient. After being selected out of Auburn in the 5th round of the 2021 draft, the converted safety made four starts as a rookie before a torn achilles at the Patriots game prematurely ended his season.

It was a devastating blow for a player who was just finding his footing in the league. Following that game, Saleh had some words of comfort for a player who knew he faced a long road to recovery

“He’s one of the guys who’s going to be a staple here,” Saleh said after that Patriots game. “He studies his butt off. As for his size, he is going to get bigger when he gets a full NFL offseason and meal plan. He has the ability to uncoil and tackle people, one of the best in the draft. He doesn’t give up many leaky yards. Let’s just say that and he’s only going to get better.”

Although he was a fixture of the special teams unit from the start of the year, Sherwood didn’t make his defensive bow in the 2022 season until week nine against Buffalo. With the defence rolling, well on their way to being the 4th best unit with points per game against resting at just 18.6, Sherwood had to be patient.

Now with a healthy season in the bag and a full NFL offseason under his belt, Sherwood is ready to take the next step, and opportunity has come knocking.

In an interview with team reporter Ethan Greenberg, Sherwood confirmed that after entering the league at 212 lbs, he bulked up to 237 lbs this off-season, and that added strength and power is evident when you see him on the practice field.

If the physical transformation is clear for all to see, the most underappreciated aspect of the transition from college safety to NFL linebacker is the mental adjustment. Sherwood credits the coaching staff and veterans like C.J. Mosley for providing the coaching needed from a scheme and technical point of view.

Although 2022 must have been frustrating with Sherwood only seeing 25 snaps on defence, you won’t hear a single complaint from him. He took the time to tap into players like Mosley and Alexander, absorbing all the information that comes with 16 years of NFL experience.

Now, he’s hungry to show what he can do; as he said to Greenberg: “A wolf that’s climbing the mountain is always hungrier than the wolf on top of the mountain”.

Although we’ve often seen Sherwood as the ideal middle linebacker candidate because of his communication and natural leadership, with C.J. Mosley in the building, Sherwood will likely have to start building his resume at the outside spot. In a role that requires versatility, his experience as a safety will come in useful when asked to drop into coverage.

According to PFF, Sherwood was targeted 59 times over three years at Auburn, and the Florida native allowed just 61% of passes to be completed, surrendering one touchdown but bringing down one interception to go with five pass breakups.

Thought to be one of the better run defenders at Auburn, it’s easy to see why the Jets decided to draft and mould him into a linebacker. When you combine an ability to cover with a nose for the football in the run game and outstanding tackling technique, you have yourself a player.

His progress hasn’t gone unnoticed among his peers either; earlier in camp C.J Mosley highlighted Sherwood’s work ethic, something that Coach Saleh references nearly every time he talks about the third-year player:

“I’m excited for what [Sherwood] is going to bring this year. He’s one of the smartest players on our defence and on this team. He’s a hard worker, one of the hardest workers in the weight room and classroom. I feel like he’s got a great chance to really show what he’s about.”

The first pre-season game against Cleveland will represent his first chance to really make a statement. With Coach Saleh confirming that the starters will miss that game, he’ll likely start as the middle linebacker in place of Mosley.

Although the Jets do play with two linebackers in their sub-package, Kwon appeared in 558 defensive snaps last year, which represents 558 opportunities for one of the young linebackers to make a statement. Sherwood is determined it’ll be him.