On Monday, August 8th, 2022, New York Jets fans flocked back to 1 Jets Drive for day three of public training camp. Coming two days after New York’s annual Green & White Scrimmage at MetLife Stadium, excitement was through the roof. Zach Wilson was trending after a wild catch on the sideline, and health was a big storyline. Let’s dive into the latest notes and analysis from the third edition of New York Jets training camp amongst the fans, 2022…
2022 New York Jets Training Camp Amongst the Fans: Day 3
Mekhi Becton Injures Right Knee
Following the Green & White Scrimmage, there were a few injuries of note. Cornerback DJ Reed, running back Ty Johnson, and defensive lineman Vinny Curry are all dealing with hamstring injuries. Offensive tackle Conor McDermott is out 1-2 weeks with a low ankle sprain. But the biggest injury concern so far came when right tackle Mekhi Becton went down two plays into team drills.
#TakeFlight Mekhi Becton down, struggling to get back up in own power, grabbing at his right knee, which already had a brace on it
— Mason H. Smoller (@Smollerreport) August 8, 2022
Mekhi Becton’s surgically repaired right knee had the third-year tackle limping during practice. It was when matched against John Franklin-Myers that Becton fell backward in an awkward position to irritate the knee. After practice, Head Coach Robert Saleh assured reporters the injury is not a major concern. Becton will undergo an MRI to determine severity of injury.
Nevertheless, with a high-ceiling mammoth of a tackle who has played just 15 games his first two seasons, it is alarming to see him go down in the fashion he did. In fact, Becton’s injury ultimately halted the energy at practice. For the next hour, fans were watching the facility doors, hoping to see the 6’7″ Lousiville product re-emerge. In the end, they were just left with a disappointing relief performance by Becton’s backups.
Depth Issues at Offensive Tackle
Leaving two plays into the full-team period, Becton’s absence quickly became apparent. Currently, the Jets third tackle is Chuma Edoga, who enters his fourth season out of USC. The former 2019 third-round pick immediately got beat by Jacob Martin, and his day did not get any better from there. Constantly, Edoga was getting beat, whether against the first or second-team defense. In other words, today was not a good showing for Edoga, who enters camp already on the roster bubble and looked rough at both left and right tackle.
Meanwhile, 2022 fourth-round pick Max Mitchell did not fair much better. It is known that Mitchell needs to add bulk to his frame, being just 6’6″ and 297-pounds, but he too was being beat often in pass protection.
Today’s practice re-iterated the Jets need to add a veteran third tackle. In 2021, the late off-season signing of Morgan Moses proved more than valuable. Could Duane Brown be New York’s new Moses?
Defensive Front Dominates
From the start, the defensive line brought the heat. The first-team unit, specifically John Franklin-Myers, Carl Lawson, and Quinnen Williams were all making plays during practice. Like most days during Jets camp, the playmaking trickled down the depth chart.
Free agent signing Jacob Martin practically has gotten a sack every practice. Former 79th overall pick in 2020 Jabari Zuniga has strung together a handful of strong days in a row now. All camp long, it has been apparent the Jets have their most talented defensive line rotation in years.
The biggest winner from Monday was easily 2022 26th overall pick Jermaine Johnson II. The Florida State product was a monster during 11-on-11s, including three-straight sacks (should quarterbacks be allowed to be sacked during camp). Johnson made a home in the backfield today, and the tackles certainly won’t forget it.
Jermaine Johnson living in the backfield. Sure looked like three sacks in a row.
— Ethan Greenberg (@EGreenbergJets) August 8, 2022
Garrett Wilson Latest to Hype Crowd
As mentioned in previous training camp articles, at every public practice, the New York Jets have a rookie draft selection to hype up the fans in the stands. So far, it has been Max Mitchell, Breece Hall, and now, wide receiver Garrett Wilson.
G-DUB ROOKIE HYPE TRAIN
🗣 @GarrettWilson_V pic.twitter.com/crsRBPO7Jg
— New York Jets (@nyjets) August 8, 2022
Notable Performers of the Day
Offense: Tight End Tyler Conklin
Over the past 72 hours, Tyler Conklin has earned the hot hand in the Jets tight ends room. His chemistry with quarterback Zach Wilson led to multiple receptions in the Green & White Scrimmage, including a touchdown. During camp on Monday, he ran with the first-team offense, establishing himself as Wilson’s safety valve underneath.
Throughout training camp, both Conklin and Uzomah have had their moments. Considering the Jets offensive scheme, it is hard to imagine one truly emerging as the number one tight end before the season. Either way, the fact the Jets have two starting-caliber tight ends is becoming hard to ignore.
Defense: Jermaine Johnson II
Again, Jermaine Johnson II lived in the backfield during Monday’s practice. To have another young, lengthy pass rusher with the upside Johnson does gives the Jets another X-Factor along their defensive front. Should he be ready to play a major role right out of the gate, New York’s defensive line will be a force in 2022.
Other Notes and Analysis
It was a quiet day for the running backs, with Tevin Coleman leading the way with a few long runs. Zach Wilson had another solid day of no turnovers, while the receivers had a quieter day than usual. The secondary was flagged downfield a handful of times, but the linebackers looked arguably the best they have all summer. For a team with concerns about its run defense, Monday was a good sign of improvement.
Lastly, the special team’s units got an extended look. Kicker Eddy Piniero drilled all three of his attempts, whereas Greg Zuerlein had a rough day missing two of three. At the same time, punter Braden Mann looked fresh, without a wary punt all day.
Final Takeaways from Day 3 Amongst the Fans
Robert Saleh says all his players (healthy) will play in the preseason opener “about a series or two” #Jets
— Connor Hughes (@Connor_J_Hughes) August 8, 2022
Another day, another practice at 1 Jets Drive, though a worrisome one. Mekhi Becton’s injury status looms large and shined a massive light on the depth at tackle. The defensive front won the day, and Zach Wilson had a mistake-free practice. Looking at Friday’s preseason opener against the Philadelphia Eagles, it sounds like the starters will see an extended look.
2022 New York Jets Training Camp Amongst the Fans: Day 1, Day 2
Main Photo: Embed from Getty Images
