Watch some highlights from the New York Jets’ 2022 Green & White Scrimmage at MetLife Stadium
The New York Jets held their annual Green & White Scrimmage at MetLife Stadium on Saturday night. It featured periods of 7-on-7s, scripted 11-on-11s, and unscripted 11-on-11s.
Fans in attendance witnessed a competitive practice, featuring plenty of highlight-reel moments from both the offense and defense. After a red-hot start by the offense, the defense began ruling the night in its latter half.
Even though the offense eventually fizzled out, it was still a largely successful night for quarterback Zach Wilson. The second-year passer appeared confident and decisive as he did a great job of getting the football out quickly and delivering it into tight windows. It was night-and-day from his performance in this same setting exactly one year ago, when he threw multiple interceptions and struggled mightily to get the offense moving.
Let’s get into some highlights.
Wilson throws a dart to Braxton Berrios on a curl route from the opposite hash. Berrios is blanketed by slot cornerback Michael Carter II, but Wilson puts it in the perfect spot with exquisite timing.
Zach Wilson threads the needle to Braxton Berrios #Jets pic.twitter.com/vv6fKTbRdf
— Optimistic Jets (@OptimisticJets) August 7, 2022
From an overall team perspective, there is no better sight to see in practice than reps like that one, where the coverage is great but the pass and catch are even better.
Next, Wilson rolls out and makes the correct decision to target Jeff Smith, who is the deepest of three options on Wilson’s side. Wilson puts it on the numbers but Smith drops it. (Maybe it’s a tad behind, although that feels like nitpicking, especially with the receiver bearing down on the sideline. Catch the ball.)
Wilson nice throw dropped by Jeff Smith. pic.twitter.com/KziNBXi7Ns
— Joe Farella (@joefarella) August 7, 2022
Tyler Conklin was arguably the best player of the night on either side of the ball. He made one catch after the next, flaunting his smooth route-running and soft hands. Here, Conklin lines up in the slot and beats Jordan Whitehead man-to-man on a quick slant. Wilson threads the needle for a touchdown.
Zach TD to Conklin. #Jets pic.twitter.com/ScMBtCItgo
— Joe Farella (@joefarella) August 6, 2022
.@ZachWilson + @T_Conk1 = 6 pic.twitter.com/FChb9rr7Fg
— New York Jets (@nyjets) August 7, 2022
This time, Wilson hits Conklin up the seam.
Zach with the completion. #Jets pic.twitter.com/PicBm0bRNG
— Joe Farella (@joefarella) August 6, 2022
In a two-minute drill, Wilson first hit Corey Davis over the middle for a nice gain to get things going. Wilson then tried to hit Davis over the middle once more, placing the ball nicely between a crowd of zone defenders, but Davis dropped it.
2 min drill time. Zach to CD. pic.twitter.com/a7JgAsC3bp
— Joe Farella (@joefarella) August 7, 2022
Corey Davis with the drop. pic.twitter.com/D9IocsKCUt
— Joe Farella (@joefarella) August 7, 2022
That pass might look like it was a bit behind Davis. In actuality, it’s great placement by the QB, as described by Jets X-Factor’s Robby Sabo (who had a view from the press box at MetLife).
Second and 15, Zach Wilson *appropriately* throws "behind" C.Davis in a situation where he makes sure to NOT lead him into the FS. Excellent throw, reading the DBs' leverage.
Davis drops it. Gotta have that for a huge 15-20-yard chunk and first down with under 40 seconds. #Jets
— Robby Sabo (@RobbySabo) August 7, 2022
The low point of Wilson’s night was an interception to Del’Shawn Phillips. Wilson tries to hit C.J. Uzomah on an out route from the opposite hash but fails to recognize Phillips dropping from the A-gap into a hook/curl zone.
Tyson – "He's staring at guys now"
Zach INT pic.twitter.com/G1mLaxueb3
— Let's Talk Jets! (@TalkJetsRadio) August 7, 2022
This one falls incomplete, but Wilson nearly connects with Garrett Wilson on a deep bomb. Sauce Gardner‘s lengthy frame makes it too tight of a window for the Wilsons to notch the completion.
Almost…. pic.twitter.com/UnAhzAqUT8
— Let's Talk Jets! (@TalkJetsRadio) August 7, 2022
Gardner flashed multiple times with exciting reps in coverage. On this rep, Gardner hangs with Elijah Moore on a deep route, forcing an incompletion.
— Matt K (@Matt19THFC) August 6, 2022
There are not many 6-foot-3 corners who can stick with a 5-foot-10 wide receiver like that.
The Jets closed things out on a high note as they welcomed 7-year-old fan AJ onto the field to run a play. AJ took a red-zone handoff from Zach Wilson out of the shotgun and showed outstanding patience and power as he let the blocks develop before bulldozing his way into the end zone for a game-winning touchdown. Tyler Conklin’s block led the way.
SNY Play Ball presented by @Toyota teamed up with the @nyjets to provide a dream day experience for 7-year-old AJ Ojeda, who has Cerebral Palsy.
Tonight he scored a TD on the final play of the Green & White Practice! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/jxfbuqZTaJ
— Jets Videos (@snyjets) August 7, 2022
Speaking to the media after the game, head coach Robert Saleh was impressed with Wilson’s performance.
“I really thought he was really good,” Saleh said. “He dropped a dime over a buzz defender’s head … had a really good strike there in the two-minute drive, I think it was to Corey [Davis]. He moved around in the pocket, found some open lanes to run in, buy some time. He was really good in the huddle; [I was] just standing back there and listening to him. Good with cadence, because he was changing up his cadence. So I thought he was really good.”
"I thought he was really good"
Robert Saleh shares his thoughts on Zach Wilson's performance in the Green & White game: pic.twitter.com/yG0ubzT6wL
— Jets Videos (@snyjets) August 7, 2022
In other news, free-agent offensive tackle Duane Brown was in attendance, seen here speaking with Jets general manager Joe Douglas.
Duane Brown sighting at MetLife #Jets pic.twitter.com/VhTvASoIu3
— NYJE (@nyjetsexclusive) August 6, 2022
When asked about Brown, Saleh said there is “interest on both sides” and that Douglas has been working on Brown for a while.
Saleh says “there’s interest on both sides” between the #Jets and Duane Brown.
Adds that GM Joe Douglas has been working on that a while.
Conversations will continue. Saleh says any time there’s a chance to add a Pro Bowler, you have to look into it.
— Dennis Waszak Jr. (@DWAZ73) August 7, 2022
Coincidentally, backup offensive tackle Conor McDermott left practice with an ankle injury, which could make the need for Brown even greater. Saleh says the team will know more about McDermott’s status on Sunday.
The Jets have Sunday off and will return to practice on Monday. It’s officially the first Jets game week of the 2022 season, as the preseason opener in Philadelphia looms on Friday night (7:30 p.m. ET).
