Across the NFL, joint practices mean different things to different people -- be they coaches, players or fans. For TE Tyler Conklin, the Jets' encounter with the Washington Commanders on Thursday at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center is an opportunity to knock heads with some "different people."
"First of all, it's a good opportunity after a long time just going against each other and seeing the same faces playing against your teammates every day," Conklin said on Wednesday's virtual press conference following the team's indoor walk-through. "To go and work your craft against a different scheme, different people, it's a really good opportunity for us as a group offensively and to continue to build on what we've been doing in camp.
"It's a good opportunity just to see something different. You get used to doing what your defense does and obviously that's not how it works throughout the season. So, it will be good not just for the O-line and us as a group to get different looks, handle different blitzes that our defense doesn't give us. So, I think it will be important these next couple of joint practices, starting with Washington in the preseason, to just keep building chemistry."
Conklin, who signed with the Jets from Minnesota ahead of the 2022 season and has had the most-productive spell of his six years in the NFL, said that the first two weeks of training camp have been a grind amid the sultry summer weather in North Jersey.
"It's been hot, hotter than normal and the humidity has been bad," he said. "For me, and us as a group, I think it's right foot left foot, one play at a time. We're going to be out there no matter what. There's no point moping about it. We're doing something we love, something we get paid well to do, so I think it's just a next-play mentality and that's kind of what we do well as a team right now."
Playing with three different quarterbacks last season (after Aaron Rodgers sustained a torn Achilles tendon in the regular-season opener), Conklin tied his career high in receptions with 61 (the same number he had in 2021 with the Vikings). That came after he hauled in 58 in his first season with the Green & White. He has settled in as the team's No. 1 tight end, backed up by Jeremy Ruckert, and potentially Kenny Yeboah and Zack Kuntz. With Rodgers back under center, backup QB Tyrod Taylor on Wednesday said he's been impressed with Conklin play and the potential to exploit his talents in the coming preseason and regular season.
"He's made a ton of plays, I was impressed through the spring and in camp," Taylor said. "His catch radius is very wide. He's a smart player in the run game blocking schemes and finding holes within the defense from a passing game standpoint. I'm looking forward for him to contribute a lot."
As camp grinds on through the dog days of August ahead of Saturday's game against Washington at MetLife Stadium, which will be followed by joint practices and games at Carolina and against the Giants, Conklin said they will be a welcome respite from the routines of training camp.
"Obviously, it's a grind. Right?" he said. "We started with 12-13 practices in the dog days a little bit. But that's kind of the beauty of camp when as a group, everyone's tired and you don't want to be out there. But practice is kind of when you come together as a team, as a group and really start building those bonds and going through those dog days together. So it sucks a little bit, you start getting a little more sore, you're tired, but you find out a lot about yourself."
