No Jets rookie has played in every game this season, except punt Braden Mann. Five have spent time in the injured reserve, one on the reserve / non-football injuries list and one will end the season on the reserve / COVID-19 list.
Nothing about their first season in the NFL was normal, from a virtual off-season to playing in empty stadiums to calling their locker room a trailer.
But Joe Douglas may have something to work with. The Jets General Manager’s first draft class has shown signs of promise as it enters Sunday’s season finale against the Patriots, offering hope that this could lay the groundwork for a turnaround in the years to come.
“That’s something we definitely hope to do,” rookie cornerback Bryce Hall said Friday. “We have a long way to go before we can comfortably say that, but that’s something this young group of guys are proud of – just being part of the change and positively impacting this organization.”
The season of the Jets ends in week 17 for a 10th year in a row and with it comes a low season of change – starting with an expected change at the head coach, a lot of uncertainty at the quarterback and more roster to turn. But while the Jets’ rookies haven’t won much this year, coach Adam Gase believes they benefited by learning from the veterans and seeing how they handled a difficult season.
“I feel like our young players have gotten better because they understood how to practice,” said Gase. “They understand how to show up and be ready for race day and then when they get their chances, they have to make the most of it. I think there are a lot of young guys who got a lot of valuable play time this year, but I also think they got a lot of valuable practice time too.
“I’ve been on teams before where things aren’t going well and guys are missing out on opportunities to get better, because they say, ‘Ah, this season is a shame and I can’t get out. If guys accept this notion, “Hey, this makes me better as an individual player,” that’s huge It’s so beneficial for a young player because you only get so many shots on this thing, you only get so many reps. Every rep is so valuable to all these guys, especially rookies, especially no offseason, no real training camp, no pre-season games. Everything we do is crucial to the development of these guys. “
Hall, a fifth-round roster who has played every moment of the past five games after coming back from a serious ankle injury at Virginia, is one of nine rookies Douglas drafted in April. Seven of them have played this season, with Hall, left tackle Mekhi Becton and wide receiver Denzel Mims all starting right now and Mann getting plenty 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 end Jabari Zuniga is struggling to get playing time after falling back from a quad injury in training camp. But the Jets could have pieces to build with from their 2020 concept class on the way to a pivotal off-season – one that might even feel a little closer to normal.
“This experience has allowed us to get really close and I feel it contributed to the fact that a lot of young guys have done it,” said Hall.
“I feel like the biggest jumps usually take place from the first to the second year. … So it is extremely exciting to be able to really attack, now know what to expect and prepare accordingly. “