Jets Training Camp: Progress and Players Happy To Be Told about Direction of the Team

Wednesday, August 20th, is the final day of training camp for the Jets, as they will be ready to finish up the preseason this Friday at MetLife Stadium against the defending Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles. Once that is finished, the cutdown days will be coming, and we will also find out who stole a roster spot and who will be on the practice squad.

John Simpson is Excited For The Direction On How They Will Play

For these last two games, we have seen the Jets run the ball successfully. Without a doubt, the offense had the majority of successes. While in the second game against the Giants, they had some failures, but one thing is certain. The running game will be very important, and that means a lot of work for the offensive line to create holes for the running backs in Breece Hall, Braelon Allen, Isaiah Davis, and whoever gets selected from training camp.

“I think the identity of this team is just physicality, no matter what play it is, run, pass, or whatever,” John Simpson said. “I think coach does a good job at telling us that that’s what he wants. He wants it to be whatever it is, to be physical. And if that means we got to run the ball 12 times, 15 times in a row, that’s what it is. So I’m ready for it.

“I love it. Like I said, I just want to be as physical as I can. And just dominate. Like, it doesn’t really matter to me what the play is. But when I do hear a run call, I do get a little bit excited.”

Tanner Engstrand Sees Positives In His Offense

While the starters have only had two series in both preseason games, either ending in the first quarter or going a little into the second quarter before the change was made to either Brady Cook or Adrian Martinez, there have been plenty of positives with how this offense has looked. While there are still some issues that need fixing and the Jets are well aware of it. But Offensive Coordinator Tanner Engstrand is seeing the upside of his offense.

“We’re making progress,” Engstrand said before Wednesday’s final practice of training camp, before wrapping the preseason schedule against Philadelphia. “We feel we’re in a good spot right now. Guys are really responding to what we’re asking them to do every day, and so we feel really good about that. We’re excited about our players and looking forward to Friday night to see those guys perform.”

The one person he has been impressed with and enjoys watching improve this camp is quarterback Justin Fields. He has been enamored with how Fields can be told a play and can execute it well; if Engstrand wants to add a wrinkle or two, it won’t be a problem at all for his starting quarterback.

“His mind is like a steel trap,” Engstrand said of Fields. “We tell him something once, and it’s locked in there. He doesn’t forget it, and he knows it. I didn’t know him before we got here, and that’s something that has been really impressive to me. We’re always going to do what the players do best, what they excel at,” he said. “But there are also things in our system that Justin may or may not have done before, or that I know he hasn’t done better, that we’re challenging him to see if he can do them. So far, he’s shown he can do that.”

“I really like where Justin’s at right now with the dropback passing concepts. He understands what we’re trying to do, what we’re trying to attack, and where the ball needs to go. And I think every day we’re showing progress, from Justin and the other quarterbacks, and then just everybody being on the same page with the passing game. So I think we’re good.”

Jets Trade for Jowon Briggs

The Jets have just made a trade with the Cleveland browns as they received Defensive tackle Jowon Briggs and a 2026 7th-round pick and sent a 2026 6th-round pick in next year’s NFL Draft. They are in the market for a Wide Receiver to help complement Garrett Wilson and take away any double team that will be coming their way.

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