No Jets rookie has played in every game this season, except bettor Braden Mann. Five spent time on the injury reserve, one on the non-football reserve / injury list and one will end the season on the reserve / COVID-19 list.
Nothing about his first NFL season has been normal, from a virtual offseason to playing in empty stadiums and calling a trailer from his locker room.
But Joe Douglas may have something to work with. The Jets general manager’s first draft class showed signs of promise as he entered Sunday’s end of the season against the Patriots, offering hope that he can help provide the basis for a turnaround in the years to come.
“This is definitely something we hope to do,” cornerback Bryce Hall said on Friday. “We still have a long way to go before we can say this comfortably, but this is something that this young group of boys is proud of – being able to be part of the change and impact this organization in a positive way.”
The Jets’ season will end in Week 17 for a tenth consecutive year and with it will come an off-season full of changes – starting with an expected change in the head coach, a lot of uncertainty in the quarterback and more changes in the squad to come. But although the Jets rookies have not experienced many victories this year, coach Adam Gase believes they have benefited from learning from the veterans and seeing how they have handled a difficult season.
“I think our young players have improved because they understand how they need to train throughout this,” said Gase. “They understand how they need to show up and be ready for match day, so when they have the opportunities, they need to make the most of it. I think there are a lot of young people who have gained a lot of valuable time playing this year, but I also think they have had a lot of valuable practice time as well.
“I have been on teams where things are not going well and the guys miss opportunities to improve because they think, ‘Oh, this season is a waste and I am not gaining anything from it.’ When the guys understand, ‘Hey, I’m getting better because of that as an individual player’, that’s huge. It is so beneficial for a young player, because you only get so many strokes on that thing, you get so many repetitions. Each rep is very valuable to all these guys, especially the newbies, especially without offseason, without real training, without pre-season games. Everything we do is fundamental to the development of these guys. “
Hall, a fifth-round pick who played every crackle of the last five games after returning from a severe ankle injury in Virginia, is one of nine newcomers Douglas drafted in April. Seven of them played this season, with Hall, left tackle Mekhi Becton and wide receiver Denzel Mims, all starting today and Mann getting a lot of action.
Safety Ashtyn Davis (foot) and running back La’Mical Perine (COVID-19) have already played their last game of the season and defensive side Jabari Zuniga has been struggling to gain time after being hampered by a hip injury in the playing field. training. But Jets may have parts to build from their 2020 draft class going into a crucial off-season – which may even seem a little closer to normal.
“This experience really allowed us to get closer and I feel that it contributed to us being able to contribute, many young people doing it,” said Hall.
“I feel that the biggest jumps usually happen from the first year to the second year. … So it is extremely exciting to be able to really attack, now know what to expect and prepare accordingly. “