There’s only one week left before the regular season kicks off, but plenty will be on the line when the Jets take on the Eagles in the final week of the preseason on Thursday night at MetLife Stadium.
New York’s starters will not be participating, meaning reserves who are fighting for a roster spot will get extra reps throughout the course of the evening. These reps can make or break a player’s status on the roster bubble, as it is Adam Gase and company’s last chance to evaluate them.
So, what should Jets fans be aware of in Week 4 of the preseason? Here are some storylines to keep an eye on.
Do Or Die Time
For players like Alex Brown, Tevaughn Campbell and numerous others, Week 4 of the preseason carries the potential to make or break one’s professional football career.
With a poor performance against the Eagles, any player on the Jets roster bubble could be let go. Every offseason, players around the league who get cut do not catch on elsewhere, effectively ending their dreams of sticking on an NFL roster.
The final week of the preseason is the last chance for the players on New York’s roster bubble to show the coaching staff what they’re made of. Expect Gang Green’s backups to leave everything they have out on the field against Philadelphia.
Jachai Polite’s Fate
Much has been made about Jachai Polite’s future with the Jets in recent days.
Rumors have indicated that the 2019 third-round pick could be cut without a strong showing against the Eagles. While unlikely that Joe Douglas would actually cut Polite as a rookie, it would behoove the Florida product to put together a solid performance.
Not only would it quiet the critics, but it would better position him to carve out a role in defensive coordinator Gregg Williams’ linebacker rotation in the regular season. Regardless, it will be intriguing to see what kind of performance Polite puts together after not appearing in the box score against the Saints a week ago.
Magic Number 55?
In his brief time with the Jets, Adam Gase has developed the reputation as a madman of sorts. Is he crazy enough to throw the ball 55 times in a meaningless preseason game, though?
Earlier in the week, Gase joked with the media that the Jets would attempt a minimum of 55 passes against the Eagles. It seemed like a joke, but there could very well be a hint of truth in his words. Week 4 of the preseason affords Gase the opportunity to really see what he has in Trevor Siemian, Luke Falk and Davis Webb. Siemian doesn’t have much to prove at this point, but Falk and Webb are essentially duking it out for a spot on New York’s practice squad.
What better way to find out who assumes the No. 3 spot on the depth chart than relentlessly airing out the football?
Running Back Rumble
Thursday night will be a three-man war in New York’s backfield, as Trenton Cannon, Bilal Powell and Elijah McGuire are set to duke it out for the final spot in the Jets’ running back rotation.
With Cannon thriving both on the ground last week against the Saints and as a returner throughout the offseason, odds are his roster spot is safe. That leaves Powell and McGuire as the duo fighting for the No. 3 spot on the depth chart behind Le’Veon Bell and Ty Montgomery.
Powell is the more established tailback and has showcased a complete skillset throughout his career with the Jets. McGuire, meanwhile, is younger and has a higher ceiling at this point. Regardless of who ultimately wins the job, Week 4 of the preseason could be a battle for the ages at running back.
