NY Jets: 5 things to watch for in Saturday's preseason game

NY Jets running back battle

The early favorite to start the season at tailback for the NY Jets is rookie Michael Carter. The odds favor Tevin Coleman making the team's roster as well. Because of his experience playing in the run game orchestrated by former 49ers and current Jets line coach John Benton.

While it will be interesting to see how Carter performs in this system during Saturday's game, the most intriguing aspect will be who rounds out the rest of the Jets' running back room when the season starts.

Right now, by all accounts, La' Mical Perine is off to a great start in training camp in his second year as a Jet. Perine looks rejuvenated in the new system after a lackluster rookie campaign in 2020. But he's going to have to produce in games to fend off the likes of Ty Johnson, Josh Adams, and Austin Walter.

Typically, NFL teams do not carry more than four halfbacks on their 53-man roster. Most teams carry only three. Carter and Coleman as virtual locks to make the Jets roster. The battle for the remaining one or two spots could come down to who carries the most roster value as backups. Ultimately, the decision of who stays and who goes could be determined by how these backs perform in these games. Starting with the Giants game tomorrow night.