During the Jets' first two weeks of training camp, second-year center Joe Tippmann battled consistency with his snaps back to the quarterback from the shotgun formation.

In Saturday's first preseason game, a 20-17 victory over Washington at MetLife Stadium, Tippmann was the only prospective starter on the offense to see any action. Head coach Robert Saleh decided instead to have his roster of reserves, young players and undrafted free agents show what they could do.

For Tippmann, the few series he played early in the game ended with no miscues or any evidence that he was dealing with the "yips," a term often associated with golfers flubbing short putts.

"I felt good now," the Jets' second-round selection (No. 43 overall) in the 2023 NFL Draft out of Wisconsin said after the game. "Just some growing pains. I'm getting there, it's just that I started picking up the bigger load at the beginning of camp compared to last year. I think they've [the snaps] have gotten a lot better, I've been able to hold them down now and get them back [to the quarterback]. That came from a lot of hard work with the quarterbacks, the coaches and in the O-line room."

Though he was a rock at center for the Badgers, his first taste of NFL action was as a right guard as the Green & White's offensive line dealt with a raft of injuries last season. Then veteran center Connor McGovern went down with a season-ending injury and Tippmann was thrust into the middle of the action on the offensive line in Week 7.

Asked if part of his struggle was in his head, Tippmann said: "It's hard, because the first thing you do usually, I do it unconsciously, you don't even think about it. Having to think about something every play, I had to work through not getting the jump off the ball. I had to think about the snaps. I've worked through that and feel like I'm in a good place."

Tippmann's struggles led Saleh and offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett to voice their support and confidence in their center, while Aaron Rodgers said that he liked Tippmann's leadership potential and compared him to his former Green Bay center Corey Lindsley

"I want to empower Tippmann," Rodgers said. "I think Tip has a chance to take it over."

Tippmann on Saturday thanked Rodgers for support and help.

"I have a great relationship with Aaron," Tippmann said. "He's out there trying to make me better and I appreciate that it comes from a place of love, trying to make me better. Any critique I take from him, I take really well. I had that new load in practice and it's something I've been working through."