5 NY Jets players with the most to gain in Monday's preseason game

The NY Jets are set to play their second preseason game this Monday when they take on the Atlanta Falcons. The two teams just finished up a week of joint practices that saw the Jets emerge as the clearly superior team, at least as far as practice performances are concerned.

Both teams will have a chance to put their money where their mouth is this Monday, but more importantly, this game will serve as yet another opportunity for certain players on the roster to solidify their roles.

The Jets don't exactly have many (if any) starting jobs up for grabs, but with more depth than in recent memory, the team has a number of spots up for grabs at the bottom of the roster.

Which players are most in need of a standout performance? We take a look at five Jets players who have the most to gain in this Monday's preseason game.

5. Calvin Jackson/Irvin Charles, WR, NY Jets

We can just lump Calvin Jackson and Irvin Charles into the same category as they're two undrafted wide receivers fighting for one hypothetical roster spot. The word 'hypothetical' is important here because it's far from a guarantee that either makes the team.

Elijah Moore, Corey Davis, Garrett Wilson, Braxton Berrios, and Jeff Smith are all guaranteed roster spots. The Jets could carry six wide receivers, and if they do, Jackson or Charles could push Denzel Mims for that final spot.

Both Jackson and Charles have had their moments this summer. The former notably caught the game-winning touchdown in the first preseason game.

If the Jets want a smaller, quicker receiver with experience as a returner, Jackson makes sense. If they're looking for size and physicality, they might just turn to Charles. Both players could make their case on Monday.

4. Lawrence Cager, TE, NY Jets

The Jets already have a solidified trio of tight ends atop their depth chart in Tyler Conklin, C.J. Uzomah, and Jeremy Ruckert. Despite how impressive he's been this summer, Lawrence Cager isn't usurping any of them.

Instead, his best hope is for the Jets to carry four tight ends, likely at the expense of an extra wide receiver. It's something that may have seemed like a longshot not too long ago, but Cager is making the team rethink their plans.

Few players have been more impressive this summer than Cager. The converted wide receiver led the team in receiving yards last week and followed that up with an excellent week of practices.

It still seems unlikely that he sneaks onto the active roster, but he might just force the Jets' hand if he continues to impress.

3. Ty Johnson, RB, NY Jets

Ty Johnson finds himself firmly on the roster bubble heading into the Jets' second preseason game, and Monday will be his first opportunity to make his case with live reps.

Johnson has been sidelined for a lot of the summer with a lingering hamstring injury, one that kept him out of last week's game. That changes this Monday, however, when he will finally receive the opportunity that he's been looking for.

The former waiver-wire claim fell down the pecking order a lot last year and is now entrenched as the No. 4 running back on the depth chart. If the Jets carry four running backs, his roster status should be safe, barring a late push from undrafted rookie Zonovan Knight. That's not a guarantee, though.

Johnson could help his case with a standout performance on Monday. If not, and if Knight impresses, the Jets might have a difficult decision to make in a couple of weeks.

2. Denzel Mims, WR, NY Jets

This has been the case all summer. Every opportunity that Denzel Mims receives is another chance for him to improve his stock, both with the Jets and other prospective teams.

Mims finds himself battling for the sixth wide receiver spot on the roster, and it's not even a guarantee that the Jets carry six wideouts. With trade rumors swirling, Mims could help himself (and his team) out with a standout performance.

The former second-round pick has flashed at times this summer and is in excellent shape, but it's clear that the coaching staff still doesn't trust him. It's easy to see why too after an ugly sequence in last week's preseason game resulted in a concentration drop and an illegal formation penalty.

Nonetheless, Mims is auditioning for both a role on the Jets' roster and another team's roster this Monday.

1. Vinny Curry, DE, NY Jets

You have to feel for Vinny Curry. The 10-year NFL veteran battled back from a rare blood disorder last season to return to the gridiron at the age of 34, only to deal with nagging injuries all throughout the summer.

Curry exited Friday's practice early and it's unclear if he'll be able to play this Monday — an unfortunate development after he was forced to sit out of the Jets' first preseason game with a hamstring injury.

If he does play, however, few players have more to lose or gain. Curry might very well be on the outside looking in at the moment in a highly competitive battle for the depth defensive end spots on the roster.

While the likes of Bryce Huff, Jacob Martin, Micheal Clemons, Jabari Zuniga, and others have impressed this summer, Curry hasn't even had the opportunity to play. Hopefully that changes this Monday.