The Jets will open their preseason Saturday at noon when they host the Commanders at MetLife Stadium.
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ return from his season-ending Achilles injury will have to wait. The four-time NFL MVP won’t play against the Commanders and isn’t expected to play in the Jets’ second preseason game against the Panthers.
Other veteran starters likely won’t play against Washington. That means plenty of time for rookies and young players looking to make an impression before NFL rosters are reduced to 53 players by Aug. 27.
Here are the five Jets players to watch against the Commanders.
TYROD TAYLOR, QB
With Rodgers unable to practice Thursday due to inclement weather, Taylor practiced with the first-team offense and was sharp. He completed 11 of 16 passes with two touchdown passes to Garrett Wilson. One of those touchdown passes was a 55-yard pass to Wilson as he burned Commanders cornerback Emmanuel Forbes Jr. in coverage.
After Rodgers tore his Achilles tendon last year, the lack of a quality backup QB on the roster was a major talking point for the Jets. First-round pick Zach Wilson struggled and was replaced by Tim Boyle before returning to center. Wilson eventually suffered a season-ending concussion in Week 15 and was traded to the Broncos in the offseason.
Although Taylor, 35, is one of the oldest backup quarterbacks in the league, his experience will be vital in case something happens to Rodgers again.
WILL MCDONALD IV, OF
The Commanders’ offensive line struggled to block McDonald in the first joint practice. He dominated both the rush and pass and showed off his spin move in a 1-on-1 drill against offensive lineman Chris Paul.
After being selected in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, McDonald played just 19 percent of the Jets’ defensive snaps last season. He recorded just 14 tackles and three sacks in 15 games.
McDonald received little playing time due to his slender frame and lack of strength. The Jets also had John Franklin-Myers, Bryce Huff and Jermaine Johnson on the depth chart. During the offseason, Franklin-Myers was traded to the Broncos and Huff signed a three-year contract with the Eagles.
Haason Reddick’s staying power doesn’t appear to be ending anytime soon, and the preseason will allow McDonald to show the Jets coaches that they can trust him to make a significant leap forward in his second season.
OLU FASHANU, LT
After being selected 11th overall in April’s draft, Fashanu is spending his first training camp learning from veterans Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses. But he’ll get a chance to show what he can do against the Commanders’ front four.
It is hoped that Fashanu will not play during the regular season and will watch the games from the sidelines. However, given Smith’s injury history, that may be unrealistic.
Smith hasn’t played a full season since 2015 and has missed 37 games since 2020. With Smith and Moses both 33, preseason reps will be crucial for Fashanu, who only took reps at left tackle during training camp.
BRAELON ALLEN, RB
Along with Fashanu, Allen has been one of the most impressive signings to come out of Gang Green’s offseason program. Starting with OTAs and mandatory minicamps, Allen has shown that he can be a powerful back in the backfield with his 6-foot-1, 235-pound frame and a reliable pass catcher in the backfield.
Allen, a fourth-round selection, rushed for 3,494 yards and 35 touchdowns in three seasons with the Wisconsin Badgers. Entering training camp, Allen appears to be the leader of the group for the backup running back role behind Breece Hall.
In addition to Isaiah Davis, the rotation of Allen and Hall could be powerful for the Jets, especially later in the season when the weather gets colder and it’s harder to throw the ball.
QWAN’TEZ STIGGERS, CB
Stiggers was one of the best players drafted this year and he’ll finally get to show what he can do against another team. He was drafted in the fifth round after being discovered while playing for the CFL’s Toronto Argonauts.
Throughout training camp, Stiggers has made several plays around the ball. During Tuesday’s practice, Stiggers intercepted a pass from Andrew Peasley and returned it for a touchdown. He also recorded another interception against Peasley on the first day of training camp.
“Stiggers is an NFL-caliber cornerback,” Jets coach Robert Saleh told reporters. “Now it’s time to see how ready he is against opposing receivers.”
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