New York Jets fans have their favorites — often for non-football-related reasons. Micheal Clemons has an aura about him that he’s never earned on the field. Tanzel Smart is the Hard Knocks darling. Mike White became a sensation when it looked like he could barely throw a football three yards downfield. Go back through the years and you can find endless examples of this.
In 2022, the most glaring example of a non-roster-worthy player who drew hype was Chris Streveler. He led the Jets to three come-from-behind victories in the preseason and became a hometown hero. How ironic that it was he and not White, the Hall of Fame legend. Still, when the Jets were mired in the Zach Wilson midseason nightmares, many fans wanted to see a Streveler package installed in the offense.
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Even though the Streveler days are long gone, there’s still a lingering question at the Jets’ quarterback position.
You see, in 2023, the Jets carried two quarterbacks on their active roster (Aaron Rodgers and Wilson) and one on the practice squad (Tim Boyle) to begin the season. Most NFL teams have a practice squad quarterback, if only for the scout team in practice. If Jordan Travis is indisposed, as he likely will be, who will that third quarterback be?
Ah, this is where the lore of No. 15 comes in. Although he shares the number with kicker Austin Seibert, 2024 UFL MVP Adrian Martinez dons the jersey in search of his own Streveler moment. So far, so good: Martinez led the Green & White to a come-from-behind 20-17 victory over the Commanders in the first preseason game.
The similarities go further, though: Martinez also appears to be a one-read-and-run quarterback, which is true of several starters in the NFL, let alone double-backups.
However, there is one crucial difference between Martinez and Streveler. Martinez, at least, has an NFL-caliber arm. Streveler decidedly did not. Just ask C.J. Uzomah.
Chris Streveler ➡️ C.J. Uzomah as the Jets are trying to get something going heading into the 4th quarter 🏈pic.twitter.com/rMtd6wghWo
— BetMGM 🦁 (@BetMGM) December 23, 2022
We saw Martinez make a pair of downfield throws reminiscent of real NFL quarterback play.
Jets QB Adrian Martinez hits Brandon Smith on the deep shot
📱: Stream #WASvsNYJ on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/AKVT0zM4Vg
— NFL (@NFL) August 10, 2024
Brandon Smith really wants to make this team
Him & Adrian Martinez have a 🔥 connection going#Jets | 🎥 @nyjets pic.twitter.com/VH9kVrksiK
— Harrison Glaser (@NYJetsTFMedia) August 10, 2024
If Martinez can do it again, will he be the next New York sensation? After all, the Giants had one briefly last season in undrafted free agent Tommy DeVito.
Thankfully, the answer is no. Martinez may push to make the Jets’ practice squad (it’s a battle between him and Andrew Peasley if they decide to keep one). But for the New York Jets, dreaming of a quarterback who can complete a pass and win a game is hopefully a thing of the past, at least for one year.
Martinez can become a nice story, but the Jets have bigger fish to fry this season. There will be no Chris Streveler in 2024.
