The Jets head to Atlanta for their second preseason game, taking on the Falcons as injuries continue to mount. Though the Jets lost to the Giants a week ago, the starters on offense and defense looked excellent and will try to build on their performance this week against the Falcons.
Le’Veon Bell isn’t expected to play for the second consecutive game, but Sam Darnold should have no problem building off his solid one-series display against the Giants. Although it will be hard to follow up his perfect passer rating from a week ago, there are still things the offense can improve on in Week 2. This week will also feature a lot of adversity with so many injuries across the roster.
Additionally, it will be another opportunity for guys on the roster bubble to prove they belong.
Here are four things to know about the Jets-Falcons game.
Jets will miss lots of starters
Every day, it seems like a new player gets injured for the Jets. Some haven’t been serious, but others could create problems for the team as the summer progresses.
Injuries to the secondary are the most troubling, as starting cornerback Trumaine Johnson is expected to miss a lot of time with a hamstring injury. Backup Kyron Brown is also nursing a hamstring injury, meaning the Jets’ already-shallow cornerback group will be even weaker.
The offensive line will also be down two starting guards in Kelechi Osemele (pectoral) and Brian Winters (shoulder). There are lingering injuries to the defensive line with Leonard Williams (hip) and Henry Anderson (concussion) both less than 100 percent healthy.
Offensive line woes
With Osemele and Winters on the mend and center Ryan Kalil likely sitting again, the Jets will start three backup linemen against the Falcons: Jonotthan Harrison will start at center again, with Tom Compton and Alex Lewis as the guards.
Luckily, the Jets’ offensive line depth is much better than last year. Harrison, Compton and Lewis are all experienced backups who shouldn’t create too many issues for the offense, and this will be a good test to how a makeshift line will fare against NFL defenses.
Taylor Bertolet’s job to lose
Chandler Catanzaro retired, so Bertolet is the only kicker currently on the Jets roster. It’s his job to lose, and unless he botches his first preseason game since he was with the Jets in 2018, Bertolet has the best chance to be the starting kicker in Week 1.
After a rocky start to his return, Bertolet kicked well in his first week – he hit all five of his kicks in Tuesday’s practice. He’s also coming off a five-game stint in the now-folded Alliance of American Football. Bertolet converted 9-14 field goals with the Salt Lake Stallions earlier this year.
Bertolet couldn’t beat out Jason Myers this past offseason with the Jets, but now he doesn’t have any real competition for the job, except himself.
Who will step up at corner?
The cornerback group got even weaker this week with injuries to Trumaine Johnson and Kyron Brown. Right now, it looks like the Jets will trot out Darryl Roberts, Arthur Maulet and Brian Poole as their starting cornerbacks against the Falcons’ wideouts Thursday night. None of those players inspire much confidence, but someone will need to step up.
Jamal Adams already offered to switch to cornerback, but that won’t happen. So it will be on one of the three starters, or one of the backups, to outperform expectations.
