5 winners (and 3 losers) from Jets' sluggish preseason finale vs Eagles

The New York Jets wrapped up their preseason on Friday night with a 19-17 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in a sluggish finale that was more about evaluations than results.

With most starters sitting out, the game became an extended audition for depth players and roster hopefuls trying to make their final case before cutdown day. Now, with final roster decisions looming in just a few days, the stakes couldn’t be higher for those fighting for jobs.

Some players seized the opportunity to stand out, while others hurt their chances of sticking around. Here are five winners — and three losers — from the Jets’ preseason finale.

Winners and losers from Jets' loss to Eagles in preseason finale

Winner: DT Jay Tufele

Jay Tufele didn't even play in Friday's preseason finale, but he still emerged from the game as one of the team's biggest winners. The Jets' decision to hold Tufele out is certainly a strong indication that they expect him to be on the 53-man roster.

Tufele was believed to be firmly on the roster bubble, especially following the mid-week trades for Harrison Phillips and Jowon Briggs. The fact that he wasn't even asked to play on Friday suggests his roster status is more secure than initially believed.

All of his primary competitors for one of the final spots in the Jets' defensive tackle room played, including the next player on this list. Tufele should be safe.

Loser: DT Leonard Taylor III

The same can't be said for Leonard Taylor III. Taylor has flashed this preseason and seemed to be on the verge of making the 53-man roster for a second consecutive year before the Jets' defensive tackle additions this week.

Even after the trades, Taylor still appeared to have a good shot at sticking around, but if Friday's game is any indication, his days might be numbered. Taylor not only played in the game, but he was on the field with the third and fourth-stringers as late as the fourth quarter.

It's still possible Taylor finds a way to sneak onto the final roster if Byron Cowart is placed on injured reserve, but it's safe to say his chances took a major hit on Friday.

Winner: CB Jarrick Bernard-Converse

Every time Jarrick Bernard-Converse has stepped on the field for the Jets, he's impressed. That trend continued on Friday, as the former sixth-round pick put together a strong showing in his team's preseason finale.

Bernard-Converse was targeted six times in coverage and allowed only two catches for 28 yards. He added a pass breakup, held opposing quarterbacks to a 49.3 passer rating when targeted, and earned an impressive 75.2 Pro Football Focus tackling grade.

The LSU product is still very much on the roster bubble heading into next week's roster cut deadline, but he did all he could this summer to earn a spot. He belongs on the 53-man roster.

Loser: OT Armand Membou

Rookie growing pains should be expected for young offensive tackles, and that's very much been the case with Armand Membou this preseason. Membou was the only starter on either side of the ball to play on Friday, including fellow rookie Mason Taylor, who earned the night off.

The No. 7 overall pick once again had an up-and-down performance. Membou was flagged for a holding penalty that nullified a Kene Nwangwu first-down run and later penalized for a false start, although it appeared right guard Kohl Levao actually jumped first.

Preliminary PFF grading gave Membou a lowly 45.5 for the game, ranking him among the Jets’ lowest-graded players on either side of the ball. The team will be hoping for a quick rebound, as his first real test will come against T.J. Watt and the Pittsburgh Steelers in his NFL debut.

Winner: DB Malachi Moore

Malachi Moore was everywhere on Friday. The rookie fourth-round pick finished the game with seven total tackles, a tackle for loss, a pass breakup, and an interception — all in the first half.

He also showed off his special-teams ability, drilling Eagles return man Ainias Smith on a punt early in the first quarter. Moore has missed a few tackles this summer, but he plays with a different level of intensity than others on the field.

The former Alabama standout will begin the year as a backup safety/nickel cornerback, but it might not be long before he pushes Tony Adams for a starting job. The Jets will find ways to get him on the field.

Loser: DT Derrick Nnadi

Derrick Nnadi already looked like a long shot to make the 53-man roster following the additions of Harrison Phillips and Jowon Briggs, and Friday's game just confirmed that notion.

The eight-year veteran was on the field with the third-stringers for much of the first half and once again failed to make an impact. Nnadi entered the spring as the presumed favorite to start at 1-tech defensive tackle alongside Quinnen Williams.

However, his summer struggles are partially what prompted the Jets to go out and trade for Phillips. It's hard to see any scenario in which he makes the team at this stage.

Winner: DE Braiden McGregor

Braiden McGregor quietly put together a strong finish to the preseason, capped off by an excellent performance against the Eagles. The former undrafted free agent tallied two total pressures, including a sack of Eagles quarterback Kyle McCord on the first possession of the second half.

McGregor made the 53-man roster out of camp last season after an impressive summer, and while he may not have flashed quite as much this year, he still might've done enough to earn a spot in a thin defensive end room.

He certainly helped his case in the Jets' preseason finale.

Winner: WR/PR Jamaal Pritchett

Jamaal Pritchett's night started off with a muffed punt that seemingly tanked any chances he had of pushing the incumbent Xavier Gipson for the starting punt returner job. But the Jets' coaching staff can't help but be impressed by how he responded to his early mistake.

Pritchett finished as the Jets’ leading receiver with four catches for 54 yards, but there was plenty left on the bone as Adrian Martinez missed him on multiple open throws late in the fourth quarter. With more accurate quarterback play, he likely would have pushed close to 100 yards.

His performance was enough to earn him a shoutout from head coach Aaron Glenn after the game. While Glenn insisted Pritchett wasn't a lock for the 53-man roster, he made it clear that Friday's game definitely helped his case.