New York Jets fans return at Green & White Practice
Saturday night live has taken on a whole new meeting at MetLife Stadium.
Gridiron normality has returned to East Rutherford, as New York Jets fans flocked to Exit 16W to watch their team in person on their home turf for the first time since December 2019.
We’ve compiled the big plays from the first unofficial game action on Route 3.
Jets fans themselves had perhaps the first highlight of the annual Green & White Practice (previously known as the Green & White Scrimmage). The rowdy crowd made its presence felt with a raucous rendition of the iconic spelling chant, the first signs of natural noise in celebration of football action at MetLife since an XFL clash between the New York Guardians and Los Angeles Wildcats in early 2020.
Their volume earned a special shoutout from offensive lineman Greg Van Roten.
First J E T S chant in MetLife in over a year. pic.twitter.com/w2YYIdeJcz
— DJ Bien-Aime (@Djbienaime) August 7, 2021
I can hear the fans from the locker room … we are BACK @nyjets #allgas
— Greg Van Roten (@its_GVR) August 7, 2021
Fans, especially casual observers of the game, probably needed a program to tell who was who. Of the 22 representatives in the starting lineup for the Jets in their last game with packed stands, only seven remain on the team’s active roster.
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Newcomers of both the rookie and veteran variety have made instant impressions on their new supporters. That bunch is obviously headlined by new franchise quarterback Zach Wilson.
An effortless Zach Wilson 50-yard bomb at MetLife. #Jets @j_brady3 pic.twitter.com/mXTmQbdAVf
— Jets X-Factor (@jetsxfactor) August 7, 2021
Zach Wilson to Jamison Crowder #Jets pic.twitter.com/VH9PvOUl1j
— DJ Bien-Aime (@Djbienaime) August 7, 2021
Wilson wasn’t the only rookie finding his NFL groove on Saturday.
Freshman rusher Michael Carter turned MetLife Stadium into a dance club after outrunning Blake Cashman for a team drill score before unveiling his professional touchdown dance.
First touchdown is a catch-and-run by Michael Carter!
From James Morgan #Jets pic.twitter.com/N9SQLxBHuh
— Brendan Carpenter (@brendan_carp) August 8, 2021
Do your dance @8kMike 🕺 pic.twitter.com/NgzSCKCKav
— New York Jets (@nyjets) August 8, 2021
While first-year man Elijah Moore has gained some new fans through big plays in Florham Park, former Tennessee Titan Corey Davis is making his case for primary receiver duties.
Wilson scrambled and found Davis in the flat, who proceeded to make C.J. Mosley miss.
Nice escape by Wilson, Davis makes a man miss too for some YAC #Jets pic.twitter.com/kQYL3ud6U5
— Anil Ramlakhan (@elvisjets85) August 8, 2021
Moore continued to wow fans, grabbing both an over-the-middle catch through a big hit from Lamarcus Joyner and breaking away from Bless Austin for a big gain down the sidelines.
Moore making a man miss! #Jets pic.twitter.com/mlkTBSgs7i
— Anil Ramlakhan (@elvisjets85) August 8, 2021
Fans weren’t the only ones making their return to MetLife Stadium on Saturday. High-profile defender C.J. Mosley had to wait an extra month to touch the turf, and this frustrating football-less drought ended upon commencement of the scrimmage.
Mosley opted out of last season in the wake of the health crisis but has been an active participant in this homecoming weekend, particularly in coverage.
Joyner hits Crowder and Mosley picks it off. pic.twitter.com/vo68hlxP0h
— Julian Guilarte (@JulianGuilarte1) August 8, 2021
It was part of a tough unofficial night for Wilson, who nonetheless earned big cheers from those assembled. According to ESPN’s Rich Cimini, Wilson completed 11-of-24 attempts for 112 yards and two interceptions.
Javelin Guidry snagged the other pick. Joyner also had an interception in his hands but dropped it.
The Jets will return to MetLife Stadium next Saturday, where they’ll partake in their preseason opener against their East Rutherford roommates, the New York Giants (7:30 p.m. ET, WNBC).
Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags
