NY Jets: 8 stars from preseason victory over the NY Giants

The NY Jets played their first preseason game in nearly two years on Saturday, and they emerged as the victors over their crosstown rivals defeating the NY Giants by a final score of 12-7.

Jets football is back, and Gang Green is back in the win column. Even if it is just an exhibition game.

Zach Wilson made his much-anticipated debut, Robert Saleh was the head coach for his first NFL game, and a new era for the Jets organization kicked off. But those were just some of the storylines to follow.

It was a typical, sloppy preseason outing. Each team scored just one touchdown, there was a safety, a wildly missed field goal, a fumble nearly returned for a touchdown, and plenty of mistakes.

It was preseason football — none of this should have come as a surprise.

But more importantly, football is back. And the Jets started their preseason off with an exhibition victory over the Giants for the first time since 2015.

Even with a number of starters either sitting or playing just a series or two, the Jets still saw their first share of standouts — both when it came to the starters and the reserves.

While the attention will undoubtedly be on players like Zach Wilson (more on him in a bit), he wasn't the only one to make a name for himself.

Let's take a look at eight stars from the Jets' first preseason game of the 2021 season.

8. Vyncint Smith, WR, NY Jets

With Elijah Moore and Braxton Berrios sidelined for Saturday's game, Vyncint Smith was given an extended look. And he made the most of his increase in playing time.

Smith finished tied for the team lead in catches with three for 39 yards, including a key third-down pickup. The speedy wideout was working with the second-team offense, once again ahead of Denzel Mims.

He also made a crucial play on special teams early in the fourth quarter when he flew down the sideline to down a Braden Mann punt at the one-yard line.

Smith is making a strong case for a roster spot, and more performances like this will go a long way toward helping him accomplish that.

7. Hamsah Nasirildeen, OLB, NY Jets

Hamsah Nasirildeen has been one of the few rookies working almost exclusively with the starters in camp. Despite being a sixth-round pick, the Jets are clearly high on Nasirildeen and he seems primed to be the Week 1 starter at the WILL linebacker position.

Saturday's performance certainly helped his case.

The former Florida State star started at WILL and played as one of the team's two nickel linebackers for most of the game alongside fellow rookie Jamien Sherwood.

His highlight came in the second quarter when he forced a fumble on running back Corey Clement when the Giants were knocking on the door inside the Jets' 10-yard line.

Nasirildeen packs a punch and he seems to be the favorite over Sherwood and Blake Cashman to start at WILL.

6. Mike White, QB, NY Jets

Mike White was the best quarterback in Saturday's game not named Zach Wilson. Not that that's saying very much as Giants starter Daniel Jones sat out, but it is still noteworthy.

White didn't do anything particularly incredible, but he was efficient and didn't make many mistakes. The former fifth-round pick finished 13-of-19 for 127 yards and looked like a capable NFL backup.

He outplayed James Morgan, his biggest competitor for the Jets' backup quarterback job. And he looked much better than both Giants quarterbacks, Mike Glennon and Clayton Thorson.

The Jets could still consider adding a more experienced backup, but White is proving that he might just be a viable option after all.

5. Corey Davis, WR, NY Jets

Corey Davis didn't light up the stat sheet on Saturday. But it became clear early on that Zach Wilson was more than willing to look the way of his new No. 1 wide receiver.

Wilson targeted Davis four times on just two drives with the pair hooking up for two catches and 18 yards. Modest numbers, but it's apparent that the two are building chemistry with one another.

The Jets signed Davis to a three-year, $37.5 million contract with the expectation that he would be the team's de facto top wideout.

For that to happen, he'll need to continue establishing chemistry with the man who will be throwing him the ball. Saturday showed that they're off to a good start.

4. Zach Wilson, QB, NY Jets

Speaking of Zach Wilson, the rookie quarterback did exactly what he was supposed to do on Saturday.

He didn't make the highlight-reel plays that Trey Lance and Justin Fields did, but he was poised, efficient, and looked to be in control at all times.

Wilson quickly put to bed overblown talks of his training camp "struggles" and was arguably the most effective rookie quarterback in Week 1 of the preseason. His 80.3 Pro Football Focus grade was tops among all rookie signal-callers.

Again, a 6-of-9 for 63-yard stat line isn't going to excite people. But it's a start. Zach Wilson did about as well as could have been expected, and he did so without the likes of Elijah Moore and Alijah-Vera Tucker.

The rookie is off to a good start.

3. Jonathan Marshall, DT, NY Jets

The Jets' defensive line was dominant on Saturday with the depth of the unit on full display against a porous Giants offensive line. And few players impressed as much as Jonathan Marshall did.

The rookie sixth-rounder has been sidelined for much of spring practices and training camp, but he made his preseason debut in style finishing with an unofficial 1.5 sacks and a safety.

Marshall worked the Giants' interior offensive line with his best play coming in the fourth quarter when he ripped past rookie guard Jake Burton for a would-be safety.

The Jets have a deep defensive line, but Marshall has a chance to crack the rotation if he plays like this. The athleticism is there — now it's all about putting it all together.

2. Denzel Mims, WR, NY Jets

Perhaps no player needed to end up on this list more than Denzel Mims did. Fortunately, Mims impressed on Saturday in more ways than one.

He finished as the team's leading receiver hauling in three catches for 51 yards including a huge third-down pickup in which he fought to reach the marker.

Mims also spent some time on special teams — something he asked the coaching staff to do — and even came away with a tackle. It's clear that Mims is doing everything he can to work his way back up the depth chart.

He's still working with the third-team offense, but Mims was one of the best players on the field on Saturday — as evidenced by his 83.5 PFF grade that was tops among all offensive players on the Jets.

More games like this will help Denzel Mims reclaim his role in the offense.

1. Bryce Huff, DE, NY Jets

Bryce Huff might be one of the Jets' most improved players this summer. An undrafted rookie a year ago, Huff enter camp looking to establish a role in the pass rush rotation.

After Saturday's game, it seems evident that he's primed for a sizable role this season.

Huff was a force on Saturday finishing with two sacks, three pressures, and an incredible 21.4 pass-rush win rate, per PFF. All of that on just 24 snaps.

Huff, along with undrafted rookie Hamilcar Rashed Jr. (who deserves a shoutout of his own) wreaked havoc on a poor Giants offensive line all game.

Don't be surprised if Bryce Huff plays 40 percent (or more) of defensive snaps by the time the season comes to an end.