The Jets started their practice week a little sluggish following the team's day off Sunday.
"Took the guys a little bit to get going but still thought it was a good, competitive practice," HC Robert Saleh said on Monday. "Guys were communicating, executing the way we need them too, but they're legs were a little heavy."
Aaron Rodgers and the offense never seemed to find their rhythm and when Saleh was asked about the group's struggles, his response was a tip of the cap to their "opponent."
"There's a top-five defense on the other side," he said. He added: "We were trying to simulate a four-minute end-of-game situation and trying some new things, but credit to the defense because they were playing pretty tight today."
The offense heated up in the end-of-game situation, but did not find the end zone. The starters began the drive on their 20-yard line down by 20-15 with less than two minutes on the clock. The veteran QB quickly completed passes to WR Allen Lazard and TE Tyler Conklin that put the offense by midfield. Rodgers then zipped a ball over the middle to WR Garrett Wilson, whizzing by the fingertips of LB Jamien Sherwood. Set up on the defense's 35-yard line, the offense could not advance from there.
Even though the defense won the competition, pass rusher Jermaine Johnson was visibly upset on the field. Turns out, according to Saleh, it was because the Pro Bowler wasn't credited with a sack.
"I never call a sack," Saleh said. "It has to be super obvious. As a [former] D-coordinator, I have empathy in the fact that we claim to have 30 sacks, but in a game, we only get 2. So I give the quarterback the benefit of the doubt that he's going to get rid of it.
"They do a lot of complaining on the D-line, but that's OK. You want them salty."
Injury Update
The Jets have three players who will be down for the rest of training camp -- CB Jarrick Bernard-Converse, S Isaiah Oliver and DT Leki Fotu, who are all dealing with soft-tissue injuries.
WR Irvin Charles sustained a hip injury in Saturday's game against the Panthers and is expected to return to practice either Tuesday or Wednesday.
TE Jeremy Ruckert (concussion) practiced in a red non-contact pinnie Monday and should be fully cleared by midweek.
CB Michael Carter II (ankle) was in pads on an adjacent field and is considered day -to -day.
"We'll see how it looks the end of the week whether we can get him back into practice," Saleh said. "But he's getting a lot closer."
WR Mike Williams (ACL) continues to work in individual drills and told reporters he's likely to return to team periods next week.
"He's progressing well," Saleh said. "Right now, for him, continue to gain confidence. It's going to be a mental block more than anything else, but I think he's doing well."
Jetcetera
Rookie T Olu Fashanu flipped back to left tackle after practicing at right tackle all of last week and playing in Saturday's preseason game at Carolina. S Tony Adams picked off Aaron Rodgers in the back of the end zone … CB D.J. Reed made a nice pass breakup on a slant to Lance McCutcheon. … OL Jacob Hanson returned to practice after missing a couple weeks.
Ashtyn Davis deftly punched the ball out from WR Jason Brownlee's hands immediately after he caught the pass from Tyrod Taylor. … C.J. Mosley knocked down an Aaron Rodgers pass in the move-the-ball period. … Isaiah Davis had a nice run down the right side. … CB Kendall Sheffield played tight coverage on McCutcheon by the sideline, forcing the WR out of bounds despite bringing in the pass. … LB Jamien Sherwood delivered a hard hit to RB Israel Abanikanda that resulted in some minor pushing and shoving.
