On Qwan'tez Stiggers' truly remarkable journey to the Jets - from unwanted HS recruit, to 7 v 7 semi pro football & the CFL - through the eyes of those closest to him, including how a special bond with his brother helped him overcome the odds.
Jets punter Thomas Morstead gets emotional talking about this win being a full-circle moment for him. Said the Jets were the only team that would give him a shot 3 years ago. “No one would sign me because I’m old.”
Darrelle Revis: “I think tonight, the Jets organization, we stole the show. … We have the past, present and then Sauce Gardner and Garrett Wilson are the future.”
Sauce Gardner said on the penalty he did the “same thing” he was doing the “entire game.” Also noted that the flag was thrown later “after” the interception. “I don’t even know what to say.”
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The elaborate pre-practice handshake/greeting between Aaron Rodgers and Sauce Gardner includes this. I’m not an expert but can only assume it’s chapstick related? (Great shot from
@AndyMills_NJ
today.)
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One of my favorite Jamal Adams moments was that time the Jets were still in playoff contention and he stood in the middle of the locker room ripping the coach and GM while also saying “it’s not about me” and praising his own leadership skills. Sums it up well.
Jamal Adams on being in Seattle: “This is my calling.” In November and December, Adams also said that “my calling” is to play for the Jets and bring them a Super Bowl.
Few of us have multiple callings, so kudos to Adams.
So to recap: In January, the Jets let Mike Maccagnan help lead their coaching search. In March, they let him spend more than $100 million in free agency. Three weeks ago, they let him make six picks in the draft. And today, they fired him. Makes a lot of sense.
Leonard Williams said it was "fun" facing Sam Darnold.
"One time ... I had him wrapped up he still had the ball in his hand and he got rid of it and I was like, 'Damn, Sam.' And he just started laughing and he was like, 'F-you,' or something like that. It was funny."
Not an expert, but requesting a trade over frustration with your role when your team is experiencing success for the first time after years and years of awfulness is probably not going to maximize your trade value.
As critics crush Jets’ Zach Wilson, Bills’ Josh Allen defends him: "I threw three picks against the Patriots my second year and that's kind of the game where it all clicked for me. Sometimes it takes a little longer."
C.J. Mosley gave credit to Zach Wilson for hanging in there and making plays under durress. “I’ll tell you what l, No. 2 is gonna win a lot of games for us.”
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Here's an insane stat: the Jets have not had a TD drive of longer than one play since the KC game. All three of their TDs since were one-play drives from Breece Hall (72-yard run vs Broncos, 50-yard pass vs. Giants and the 8-yard run where the Eagles seemed to let him score.)
So to recap: Sam Darnold is out indefinitely with mono. Le'Veon Bell is getting an MRI on his shoulder. C.J. Mosley (groin) and Quinnen Williams (ankle) not practicing. Oh, and the Jets have already lost a starters Quincy Enunwa and Avery Williamson for the season.
Sam Darnold, working against the Washington starters, marches the Jets’ down the field in six plays for a touchdown. Darnold went 5-of-6 on the drive, finding TE Clive Walford for a 20 yard score. A very nice drive.
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Sheldon Rankins on Quinnen Williams’ stuff-arm of Tyreek Hill. “If you can’t get into the end zone, a close second is launching another human being into the turf.”
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Aaron Rodgers out here throwing 34 days after rupturing his Achilles and 32 days after surgery to repair it. As you can see he’s planting on his front foot and not just a few throws. He threw for about five minutes.
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Zach Wilson looks much sharper today. Handling pressure well. Just completed five of six passes in the second session of team drills, including a nice throw on the move to Denzel Mims while working with the second team.
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Jets C Connor McGovern on Alijah Vera-Tucker. "If you were going to build an offensive guard in a lab, it would look like AVT." Says he has the drive and smarts to be an "elite" o-lineman. "He's going to be a really good player for a really long time."
Zach Wilson's night is over. He was in for two drives and a little over one quarter, which was the expectation.
He finished 6-of-9 for 63 yards. He had a couple of nice third-down conversions and got rid of the ball quickly when pressure arrived. A solid showing.
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Israel Ibanikanda is in line to become the youngest Jet ever - the first to play before turning 21. And there's a good chance he'll be their most important rookie in 2023. How his unlikely journey from Brooklyn to the NFL prepared him for the moment.
Robert Saleh said edge rusher Carl Lawson is still “working through” his Achilles rehab, “but he looks fantastic. He’s sprinting. He’s doing everything. … The guy’s an animal so I’m not worried about his availability.”
The Jets are getting healthier. Expected back this week, per Saleh: RB Michael Carter (ankle), CB Michael Carter II (concussion), TE Tyler Kroft (chest) and DL Bryce Huff (back). Saleh also said WR Elijah Moore (quad) is expected back for the final two games.
Jets coach Robert Saleh wore a Ramapo shirt today in memory of coach Drew Gibbs, who died this week. “He’s been a staple in Jersey football for a very long time and it s just a sad moment in coaching and it puts a lot of things in perspective.”
@VarsityAces
Zach Wilson saw his most extensive 11v11 action of OTAs and it went quite well: 8-for-10 with two of his best throws of the spring: the deep ball to Moore on the first play and a perfectly placed touch pass to Keelan Cole for a 20-yard gain. It’s early, but he looks good.
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Jets offensive assistant Hines Ward said it’s going to be weird playing the Steelers this week. It’s the first time ever he’ll be rooting against his former team.
Zach Wilson’s first throw of camp is a deep, play action shot to Elijah Moore and … Moore hauls it in for a huge gain — 40-plus yards. Moore fell to the ground as he caught it and his helmet came off. Highlight reel stuff.
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Zach Wilson is 4-of-5 passing through the first two sets of of 12 v 12 team drills. He’s done a nice job spreading the ball around: Garrett Wilson, C.J. Uzomah, Tyler Conklin all with catches. Lone incompletion was a Conklin drop.
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Sam Darnold fits a perfect pass into the end zone for Chris Herndon, who makes a nice grab and gets some love from his teammates. Another nice day for the TEs: Trevon Wesco caught a short pass and took it for a TD on the first play of team drills.
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Saleh said Zach Wilson’s “process is light years ahead” of a normal rookie. “The results, sometimes will be good, sometimes will be bad, and he’s just got to continue to find ways to get better.”
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Jets defense has mostly had its way during 11 v 11 drills - Michael Carter II jumped a route to pick Wilson and Ashtyn Davis had a sweet one-handed interception of Flacco. But … they had no answer for Denzel Mims who just pulled down a Flacco deep ball in traffic.
Phil Mickelson said that if he hadn't putted the moving ball, "I'd still be out there, potentially. I took two shots, moved on and got to play the next hole."
RB Tevin Coleman on Zach Wilson: "He's a dog, man. I like Zach Wilson, he has a lot to learn and there's going to be a lot of pressure, but he's good with it and he's slinging that ball ... and he's definitely being a leader, so that's good."
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New OT Morgan Moses on Mekhi Becton: “I thought I was a big dude and … dang, he’s blocking the sun from me.” Moses said Becton is going to benefit from his battles with Carl Lawson.
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Zach Wilson on accuracy: "I just need to play loose & not try to be a perfect pocket passer all the time. The biggest thing is I'm trying to do so right by the coaches & what they're asking me to do. Part of it, I just need to be loose & play free & obviously within the offense."
Jets backup QB Mike White is wearing a shirt with TE coach Ron Middleton’s face on it today. The shirt has a line Middleton used when he coached the Senior Bowl earlier this year: “Everybody wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to die.”
News about my future (2/2): I’m also thrilled to share that this is my first week covering the Jets for . So excited to join this awesome staff and for the opportunity to continue covering the Jets for a seventh season and beyond.
How high is the ceiling for Jets rookie Mekhi Becton? Limitless, according to Joe Thomas, one of the best offensive linemen ever. But Thomas also says it will take time. A whole lot of good stuff from Thomas here, with Becton set to make his debut.
Saleh said they won't factor potential rust into when Zach Wilson returns: "You just have to rip the band-aid off." When he's ready physically, whether it's this week or later, Wilson is playing.
Jordan Jenkins on Jamal Adams' strip-sack TD: " "After that play, I saw it up there and I said, ‘Jamal, you make talk a lot of trash and I may hate your school and can’t stand you sometimes, but darn it, if you keep doing that I can deal with you.'"
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Jets QB Zach Wilson on why he’s missing some of those short, easy throws: “I’m aiming it. I’ve got to just throw it.” Said he might be overthinking it, feels like he’s been too “robotic” at times and has to just trust it and “rip it.”.
#jets
#Jets
QB Sam Darnold is here this weekend with Josh Allen watching the US Open. Darnold says he’s seen a lot of Jets fans, and even heard a J-E-T-S chant while walking around Shinnecock.
Breece Hall on why the run game struggled: “I only had four touches, that’s why we struggled.” Also said he & other backs could have done more to make the most of their opps, but clearly didn’t like the balance of plays. “We got down early and kind of abandoned the run.”
Quinnen Williams on Sauce Gardner: “I joke w him all the time, I didn’t have as much success he’s had his rookie year in my rookie year. …He’s a baller, bro. On the field & off.” Praised his leadership & humility through his early success. “I’m just glad to have him on my team.”
Before his press conference started, Gase hinted he was about to deliver bad news. Someone jokingly asked him if the building was on fire.
"Close," he said.
So to recap: Sam Darnold is out indefinitely with mono. Le'Veon Bell is getting an MRI on his shoulder. C.J. Mosley (groin) and Quinnen Williams (ankle) not practicing. Oh, and the Jets have already lost a starters Quincy Enunwa and Avery Williamson for the season.
The Jets are signing former Monmouth and Lyndhurst HS running back Pete Guerriero. He's expected to be at practice this morning. The undrafted free agent getting his chance close to home.
Saleh believes Jets got better this offseason & it’ll show. “It’s going to happen. And we’re all taking receipts on all the people who continually mock and say that we ain’t going to do anything. I’m taking receipts and I’m gonna be more than happy to share them with all y’all.“
Saleh was there yesterday and the original practice time (set more than a month ago) never changed… It’s not as if these things are difficult to verify, but here we are.
The first practice of training camp is over. Quick thoughts/notes: A strong day for Zach Wilson, even with some struggles in the red zone period at the end. Carl Lawson was on the field and moving well for some team drill reps. Denzel Mims made three impressive catches.
Zach Wilson connects with Eli Moore for a 70-yard TD early in team drills. The defense jumped offside, Wilson rolled away from the pressure and found Moore who got behind the secondary.
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Woody Johnson, in first remarks since returning from UK, was asked if he regrets working for a president who falsely claimed the election was stolen. “If we could stick to football questions, that would be great.”
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