Rookies and reserves helped the Jets salvage a dire evening
When one quarterback went down, another rose up to come up big in the clutch.
Granted, Chris Streveler’s late heroics will do nothing to soothe Jets’ fans concerns about Zach Wilson, who was forced to leave Friday night’s exhibition opener against the Philadelphia Eagles early with an injury on a scramble. But it did allow the Jets to escape Lincoln Financial Field with a 24-21 victory in their 2022 summer slate debut.
Streveler, formerly of the Arizona Cardinals, had two scores in the latter stages of the fourth quarter to earn the win.
Philadelphia’s offensive starters carved up the Jets’ premier defense to the tune of an 80-yard scoring match that took only seven plays. Jalen Hurts was a perfect 6-for-6 on the drive, capping the affair off with a 22-yeard scoring toss to Dallas Goedert, one play after his rush into the end zone that was erased by a penalty.
Jalen Hurts goes 6/6 and caps off the drive with a 22-yard TD pass to Dallas Goedert 💪
(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/VizgvUCeQq
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) August 12, 2022
Alas for the Jets, their young franchise man didn’t fare so well. Wilson completed 3-of-5 passes on his two drives (two earning first downs to Tyler Conklin and Elijah Moore) but disaster struck twice in different forms: his interception to Kyzir White set the Eagles up in prime position to score again and his highly publicized injury was a brutal blow to Gang Green supporters everywhere.
Wilson was officially diagnosed with a knee injury and was labeled “questionable” to return.
Kyzir White read this Zach Wilson pass like a 📖
INT for the @Eagles pic.twitter.com/KwCalQ7HFN
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) August 12, 2022
#Jets QB Zach Wilson comes up limping after a run. #NFL #NFLTwitter @FullPressJets
(🎥@MikeGiardi) pic.twitter.com/BFbwXyGo9f
— Full Press NFL (@FullPressNFL) August 13, 2022
To make matters worse, the Jets fell behind by two possessions thanks to a one-yard run on fourth-and-goal from Jason Huntley.
https://twitter.com/eaglesscoop/status/1558243093140365313
With Wilson done, Mike White handled a majority of the primary offensive duties before Chris Streveler stepped in the latter portions of the second half. White threw for a game-best 98 yards and led an eight-play, 46-yard scoring drive after a Michael Clemons sack helped keep Philadelphia pinned inside their own 10.
Undrafted rookie Zonovan Knight was the scorer for the Jets, punching it in from a matching single yard out. White found Denzel Mims twice on third down to keep the scoring drive alive.
Bam Knight finds the end zone! #Jets got Denzel Mims involved on that drive. Zuerlein hit the PAT. #Eagles up 14-10 pic.twitter.com/lYWhSjHyn7
— Jack (@jackstollow) August 13, 2022
Streveler, who joined the Jets on July 26, eventually played the hero, earning a go-ahead score to third-round rookie Jeremy Rucker. After Philadelphia struck back with an 18-play, 75-yard drive that ended with a go-ahead score for Kennedy Brooks, the Jets took advantage of Knight’s 52-yard runback on the ensuing kickoff that put them at the cusp of Eagle territory.
Primarily aided by his 23-yard run, the Jets enjoyed Streveler’s heroics one last time when he found Calvin Jackson for the triumphant five-yard score to cap things off.
Jeremy Ruckert, who grew up a #Jets fan on Long Island, scores in his first professional game. pic.twitter.com/utVIWA7GsN
— Matt O'Leary (@MattOLearyNY) August 13, 2022
Calvin Jackson Jr with the game-winning touchdown 🔥
Jets (+100 ML) ✅https://t.co/LAnQIyV7X4
— Action Network NFL (@ActionNetNFL) August 13, 2022
The Jets’ next preseason showdown will come on Aug. 22, when they battle the Atlanta Falcons in a nationally televised Monday night exhibition (8 p.m. ET, ESPN).
Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags
