For the second week in a row, the Jets faced backups from an opposing team in a preseason game. The Giants sat most of their starters last week and the Packers sat almost all of their Saturdays.
So is coach Robert Saleh upset that these teams aren’t giving their rookie quarterback Zach Wilson a real look against an NFL defense?
“No, this is professional football,” Saleh said after Saturday’s win over the Packers. “You are going to tell these backups that they are not capable of being beginners. You know my conviction about player A to player Z, that they have the ability to play at such a high level and that they just need a chance. it’s still professional football.These guys are professional athletes.They step on the field and have a huge pride in their work.And it’s another defense you see and a different character from a football team, just in terms of the “His way of presenting himself. So I think he’s working really well. Say it your way, but he’s still working well.”
Wilson was impressive, going 9 for 11 for 128 yards and two touchdowns. He did things that stood out regardless of the competition, such as scanning the field and advancing his readings and making a nice, unbalanced throw at Corey Davis.
Wilson said he and Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who did not play in the game, spoke a few times Saturday. The two held several conversations during the joint practices last week.
“I really only appreciate him as a man. He’s an amazing guy, “Wilson said.” He definitely doesn’t have to come up to me and say anything. I don’t expect it. But it means to me the world that is capable of approaching me. And whatever the advice he has, either, “Hey, good throw” or “Maybe you could do a little better,” means to me to be able to get there. “
The Jets had a good time on special teams on Saturday. Kicker Matt Ammendola scored three field goals, including one from 54 yards. Pointer Braden Mann landed three inside the 20-yard line. Corey Ballentine had an initial return of 73 yards.
“You love everything,” Saleh said of his special teams. “All week I thought they were doing a great job competing. I thought they did a great job winning theirs against one during practice and they continued it until the game. And again, they created a lot of explosive works. Viously, obviously Green Bay got one too, but overall I thought our special teams did a really good job this week. “