On a sun-soaked Saturday afternoon, the Jets got their preseason slate underway with a come-from-behind, 20-17 win against the Washington Commanders at MetLife Stadium.

HC Robert Saleh sat nearly 30 players as several young performers -- including RBs Braelon Allen, a fourth-round pick from Wisconsin, and Isaiah Davis, a South Dakota State product taken a round later; along with WR Malachi Corley, a third-rounder from Western Kentucky; and CB Qwan'tez Stiggers, a CFL transplant who came off the board in Round 6 -- flashed in their first pro summer appearances as professionals.

"Braelon didn't disappoint," HC Robert Saleh said. "When he gets to the second level, it's painful to just touch the human. He is a heavy human and it was really cool to see him out in the open field today."

He added of Corley: "In the pass game, you can see when he touched the ball that he is a heavy, heavy runner and a very violent runner. Very excited to see him get more opportunities moving forward, but he's definitely to be a big part of the offense."

As LB Quincy Williams watched from the sideline, Allen, who the veteran LB referred to as "Agent Zero" (Allen's jersey is No. 0) went to work in the second quarter. He carried three consecutive times for 45 yards before getting a breather. Davis touched the ball the ensuing three plays, including a 24-yard catch and run that came on a third-and-11. Then QB Andrew Peasley ended culminated the drive with an excellently placed floater to Jason Brownlee for a 12-yard TD, tying the game at 7.

With the Jets 2024 draft class making its preseason debut, Commanders QB Jayden Daniels, the No. 2 overall selection last April, got the game's scoring underway. Daniels led an 11-play, 70-yard march following the opening kickoff, ending a 6:21 drive on a 3-yard keeper coming on a third-and-goal. Daniels got Washington into scoring possession with his arm, connecting with wideout Dyami Brown for 42 yards on a long hook-up against CB Jarrick Bernard-Converse.

Tyrod Taylor, who will backup QB Aaron Rodgers in the regular season, got the start and played two series with C Joe Tippmann. Peasley took over in the second quarter and hit on 8 of 10 for 73 yards prior to halftime. Targeted 5 times in the first half, Corley had 4 receptions for 28 yards. Allen averaged 9 yards on his 6 carries while Davis grabbed 4 receptions for 33 yards. Stiggers continued to show a nose for the ball with 4 stops highlighted by a run stuff of Chris Rodriquez for a loss of 1.

Trailing , 17-10, in the fourth quarter, the Jets' reserves evened the contest when Brooklyn native Israel Abanikanda powered in from 2 yards out. Fourth-string passer Adrian Martinez set up the equalizer with a pretty 37-yard long ball to Brandon Smith, a first-year player from Iowa.

The pair later connected on a 33-yard connection on third-and-4 that put the Jets on Washington's 36-yard line. Martinez then scampered for 13 yards on third-and-7 at the 2-minute warning, which set K Austin Seibert up for the game-winning field goal.

"Over the two weeks that I've been here, I've been able to build up some trust with him," Martinez said of Smith. "I feel like I can trust him out there, along with some of those other guys, too. That's part of this game -- finding your guys and giving them opportunities. That's really all I did. He was the one who went out there and made the plays for me."

Jetcetera
The Jets did not dress 28 regulars (Full List Here) after Thursday's joint practice with the Commanders in Florham Park. …. LT Olu Fashanu, a blindside protector of Aaron Rodgers on days Tyron Smith has rested, got the start and played well into the second quarter. …. CB Jarrick Bernard-Converse, who gave up a long ball early, was challenged repeatedly and turned in a solid effort with 4 solo tackles and 1 PD. … Will McDonald executed an explosive spin move late in the first quarter, but was flagged for roughing on a play that came off the board due to offsetting penalties. … The Jets defense tallied 6 TFL from five different players. Rookie Leonard Taylor III, an undrafted free agent signee, had 2 TFLs and got to Jeff Driskel for a fourth-quarter sack… Rookie LB Jimmy Ciarlo departed in the second half with a knee injury. … After a day off, the Green & White will return to practice Monday at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center. They are scheduled to depart Wednesday for Charlotte, NC, and will practice Thursday with the Panthers before battling Carolina next Saturday.