FLORHAM PARK, NJ—Wednesday featured the second media-attended New York Jets OTA session of the offseason, which means a stock up, stock down report is on the agenda.
First and foremost, let’s squash any injury concerns that rabid Jets fans may have.
Malachi Corley leaves early, Aaron Rodgers is fine
Early in the Wednesday session, No. 17 walked off the field with an official member of the Jets training staff. I thought it was Garrett Wilson, internally saying, “Oh no.” (I should have identified the biceps.)
Malachi Corley did leave practice early, at some point during the broader positional period—when quarterbacks were throwing to weapons against air.
The rookie ultimately returned to the practice sideline without a helmet and did not participate. It’s assumed that Corley’s injury is minor in nature.
An Aaron Rodgers video circulated, putting the news-driven lightning rod in the headlines again.
Yet, the video in question featured Rodgers tending to his non-injured ankle from a season ago. Although Rodgers’s Achilles and calf will never be the same again, and he’s still navigating through his comeback bid, there’s nothing to worry over concerning this bit of news.
In fact, Rodgers looked fantastic in team sessions and 7v7s.
Stock up
- Kenny Yeboah
- Braelon Allen
- Isaiah Davis
- Isaiah Oliver
- Qwan’tez Stiggers
- Xavier Gipson
- Aaron Rodgers
Kenny Yeboah took Wednesday’s practice by storm. An early team session saw him snag an in-stride Aaron Rodgers bullet up the seam for a 60-plus-yard touchdown.
Rodgers lasers one to Yeboah for what’s probably a 60-plus-yard score (1v1 against a safer or LB, didn’t see who it was, but he laid out for it, came up empty).
They like Yeboah, and it seems AR does as well. ##Jets
— Robby Sabo (@RobbySabo) May 29, 2024
On top of a few other impressive catches, Yeboah nearly came down with a highlight-reel touchdown in red zone team sessions late in practice. With not much open, Rodgers placed a perfect one to Yeboah in the back of the end zone, but Quincy Williams’s tremendous coverage was enough to force the incompletion.
Although it would have been a tough catch, Yeboah would have loved to grab that one, as it would have cemented an insane day.
Aaron Rodgers opts for Kenny Yeboah back-end line (nothing open), RZ team session, perfect placement but better coverage, as Quincy Williams was all over him. Turned his head at the right moment. #Jets
Tough catch, no doubt, but if I’m Yeboah, I want that one badly.
Kuntz…
— Robby Sabo (@RobbySabo) May 29, 2024
Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis are receiving many looks without Breece Hall involved, and the two rookie running backs are making the most of it.
Allen took one of the first rush attempts of the day with a one-cut beauty for a chunk play. With a misdirection pitch concept dialed up, Allen and the Jets offensive line took advantage of an over-aggressive defense.
What’s important to note is how purposeful both Allen and Davis are with the ball in their hands. They hit the hole hard and do not mess around—which bodes well for the team’s power-rushing chances this season.
Nice offensive play for practice, gotta say, one that took advantage of the defense’s aggressiveness/over-pursuit, a Braelon Allen carry that would have hit nicely. Then, Isaiah Davis rips off a nice one.
Remember, this isn’t live (shorts), so take it for what it’s worth. #Jets
— Robby Sabo (@RobbySabo) May 29, 2024
Isaiah Oliver is seemingly entrenched at safety. Paired up with Ashtyn Davis as the second-team safety duo, Oliver made a couple of nice reads while in coverage Wednesday. Having this kid as your No. 3 safety, No. 4 cornerback and backup slot cornerback is a tremendous and versatile situation for Jeff Ulbrich.
The talk about Isaiah Oliver playing safety was started by Ulbrich last week, but in conjunction, the #Jets might be giving Jarrick Bernard-Converse a run at cornerback. Yes, he came out as a corner from LSU, but I believe they listed him at safety last year (injured mainly).
— Robby Sabo (@RobbySabo) May 29, 2024
Elsewhere, without Mike Williams and Malachi Corley on the field, Xavier Gipson received plenty of first-team love on offense. Don’t sleep on this kid’s offensive contribution in 2024.
Also, make sure not to pencil Qwan’tez Stiggers into any one slot. The CFL standout locked up Allen Lazard during red zone team sessions in an impressive way—on a hard-to-cover front-pylon back-shoulder timing concept.
Stock down
- Malachi Corley
- Jarrick Bernard-Converse
- Jeremy Ruckert
- Tyrod Taylor
- Izzy Abanikanda
- Allen Lazard
As previously mentioned, Malachi Corley left practice early with an injury, and it’s that alone that places him on the stock down list.
Malachi Corley walks off the practice field with somebody. Not claiming injury, but it’s notable, considering the QB-weapon drill is ongoing. #Jets (I admittedly initially thought Garrett Wilson, No. 17 got me; should have identified the biceps.)
Perhaps he’s back out there,…
— Robby Sabo (@RobbySabo) May 29, 2024
The idea that Isaiah Oliver immediately bumped sophomore Jarrick Bernard-Converse to cornerback doesn’t bode well for the LSU product. Sure, JBC played both safety and corner in college, but the Jets’ cornerback room is much more stacked, making JBC’s chances to stand out much worse.
While, yes, Kenny Yeboah’s stand-out day conflicts with a Jeremy Ruckert improvement in 2024, it’s not exactly an apples-to-apples comparison (more on that below). For now, Ruckert’s on the stock-down list, but don’t expect that to remain the norm.
As the tweet below elaborates, Tyrod Taylor shouldn’t technically be listed under “stock down,” but it’s worth mentioning how careful he is with the football.
On numerous occasions, Taylor refused to pull the trigger on a more fruitful target. He also places the ball in incredibly safe spots far too often.
Considering how his career has unfolded, the conservative nature of his play makes sense. Taylor is a guy who understands his role perfectly, and not taking a plethora of chances is a way to make the most out of his situation.
Tarik Cohen’s arrival isn’t good news for Izzy Abaniknda; it’s just that simple. Even if New York views Cohen as a kick returner, the former Chicago Bears running back is incredibly skilled in the receiving game.
Therefore, with the Jets’ other three backs resembling more of a power back—Breece Hall, Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis—the need for a third-down scat-type back is immense. Cohen fits that much more seamlessly than the PITT product.
Lastly, Allen Lazard suffered through a practice to forget. Rookie cornerback Qwan’tez Stiggers locked up Lazard on a three-step back-shoulder try near the front-left pylon on his first red zone target.
Then, however, Lazard dropped a knee-high ball a couple of plays later near the front-right pylon.
#Jets OTAs stock up, stock down …
✅ Up:
—Kenny Yeboah: Getting a lot of looks and love.
—Braelon Allen: Plenty of reps.
—Isiah Davis: Also plenty of reps, right downhill, hits hole quickly.
—Isaiah Oliver: So versatile as the CB4, S3 and backup slot).
—Quan’Tez Stiggers:…— Robby Sabo (@RobbySabo) May 29, 2024
Why Kenny Yeboah’s hot start might not impact Jeremy Ruckert
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