NY Jets: Winners and losers from the 2021 preseason

On Saturday, August 28th, the NY Jets finished their preseason in style, completing a comeback against the Philadelphia Eagles that saw the game end in a 31-31 tie. 

The Jets looked great early, then fell behind, brought it within one point, and then let the game slip away. Or so they thought — until James Morgan hit Kenny Yeboah on a Hail Mary to set up Josh Adams’ game-tying two-point conversion. 

In a way, the Jets final game before the regular season embodied the past month for the team. Full of ups and downs, but ultimately providing hope for the future. 

That being said, here are the biggest winners and losers from the 2021 NY Jets preseason.

Winner: Zach Wilson, QB, NY Jets

Could this have been any more obvious? Taken with the second overall pick in this year’s draft, BYU’s Zach Wilson came to the Big Apple with high expectations. After all, he hopes to be the franchise quarterback the team has been searching decades for. 

After a slow start to camp where Wilson struggled at times, the media capital of the world began to panic. That was until Wilson took the field at MetLife for the first time.

In his preseason debut, Wilson had a solid performance in the Jets' 12-7 win over the New York Giants. The rookie went 6-for-9 passing, throwing for 63 yards. He was only sacked once too.

His solid in-game performance put a pause on his so-so camp until Wilson went off against the Green Bay Packers a week later. In their 23-14 victory, Wilson played the first half, completing 9-of-11 passes for 128 yards and two touchdowns.

Simply put, Wilson picked apart the Packers' defense.

Even though he did not play in the wild preseason finale, Wilson walks away as a winner. He executes offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur’s offense beautifully and is ready to take on his predecessor, Sam Darnold, in Week 1. 

Loser: Chris Herndon, TE, NY Jets

For years, the Jets have been trying to give their quarterback the right set of weapons. And since 2018, Chris Herndon was supposed to be one of them.

The Miami product flashed starting tight end potential with 502 yards receiving as a rookie. At 6-foot-4 and 253 pounds, Herndon also established himself as a quality blocker, making him the most well-rounded player at the position for years now.

Except, Herndon has been unable to become the definitive starter over the past three years. His second season was shortened due to suspension and injury, and 2020 was another lost year under Adam Gase. 

So one would think that 2021, with an offensive coordinator who used to work with George Kittle, might be the year he finally pieces it all together. Instead, if the preseason is any indication of what is to come, Herndon is an afterthought entering 2021. 

New York is not loaded by any means at tight end. Herndon is currently joined on the roster by veterans Tyler Kroft, Ryan Griffin, and Daniel Brown, as well as rookie Kenny Yeboah. Yet, the fact of the matter is Herndon has been outperformed all off-season.

It became clear just before the preseason that Herndon may not wind up being the starter. If anything, the preseason just confirmed it.

Kroft saw the most time with the starters, and Yeboah’s two-touchdown performance against the Eagles may make some question whether he should have Herndon’s roster spot.

Again, the Jets do not have a strong tight end room. Because of that, Herndon’s well-rounded game should be enough to earn him a final roster spot. Nevertheless, Herndon’s latest quiet summer and fall down the depth chart puts him among the Jets preseason losers. 

Winner: Bryce Huff, DE, NY Jets

This year, few players stood out more than second-year pass rusher Bryce Huff. The Memphis product found a role as a situational rusher last year as a rookie but is hinting at big things in year two.

It began against the Giants when Huff found a home in the backfield. He recorded three tackles (two for a loss) and two sacks, as he constantly was causing pressure. Huff had a similar presence in the following two games and is arguably the team’s biggest winner. 

Prior to the Packers game, the team’s big offseason addition, Carl Lawson, went down with what would be a season-ending torn Achilles. Therefore, leaving a starting defensive end spot up for grabs.

Not only did Huff impress the new coaching staff, but he put himself in the conversation to replace Lawson in the starting lineup. And for a team starved for a consistent pass rusher off the edge, Huff’s emergence could not have come at a better time.

Huff is not just a one-preseason wonder either. Last year, he made a name for himself as an undrafted free agent during training camp and the preseason. His skill translated into a situational role as a rookie in 2020, as he appeared in 14 games.

In 2020, Huff had 16 total tackles (four for a loss), two sacks, and a pass deflection. Simply imagine what the 6-foot-3 and 255-pound defensive end may be capable of as a focal point of head coach Robert Saleh’s defense. 

Do not be surprised if Huff winds up a household name across Jets nation by season’s end.

Loser: NY Jets health

As previously mentioned, the Jets' preseason did not come and go without any hiccups. Unfortunately, those hiccups came in the form of injuries.

First came the early news that safety Ashtyn Davis would miss the start of the season while working his way back from a 2020 foot injury. That was then followed by second-year guard Cameron Clark being placed on injured reserve with a scary neck injury, leaving his own future up in the air.

Then came the major losses to the starting lineup. Along the defensive line, both Lawson (Achilles) and Vinny Curry (blood disorder) would be ruled out the season. Therefore, leaving the defense even younger and more inexperienced. 

The Jets face a similar issue at linebacker too. Jarrad Davis, New York’s second-biggest defensive addition behind Lawson, is now out until the Jets' bye in Week 6 with an ankle injury. 

Similarly, the offensive line has had numerous issues that have prevented them from taking the field at the same time this offseason.

Stud left tackle Mekhi Becton is in the concussion protocol, right tackle George Fant missed time while on the COVID-19 list, and rookie guard Alijah Vera-Tucker has been dealing with a pectoral injury.

Others, such as second-round pick wide receiver Elijah Moore, backup quarterback Mike White, defensive end Ronald Blair, and as of Friday rookie cornerback Brandin Echols too have been banged up this preseason.

Injuries are the most unpredictable part of the game, and for the Jets, it is one they are now forced to cope with prior to the 2021 regular season.

Winner: Matt Ammendola, K, NY Jets

Remember how Bryce Huff is the Jets' biggest preseason winner? Well, kicker Matt Ammendola may go down as the team’s biggest preseason pick-up, even after whatever moves general manager Joe Douglas makes before Week 1. 

To understand how Ammendola got here, one must go back to 2019, when the Jets had to replace Pro Bowl kicker Jason Myers, who was allowed to walk in free agency.

Between 2019 and 2020, the Jets turned to four different kickers (more if including those in training camp/preseason). To summarize their stints with the Jets — none of them could replicate Myers’ leg. 

Entering training camp this year, the competition was Sam Ficken vs. undrafted free agent Chris Naggar. Shortly into camp, Ficken was waived as the Jets added undrafted free agent Matt Ammendola out of Oklahoma State.

In college, Ammendola made 60-of-78 field goals and 97.8 percent of extra points in 42 games. In the NFL though, Ammendola has looked like the next great leg. 

By the Packers game, Ammendola was the lone kicker left on the team, as Naggar was waived. He had won the competition and went on to finish the preseason having made every kick attempted (four field goals and five extra points).

Not to mention, Ammendola has plenty of power in his kick too, even drilling a 54-yard field goal in Green Bay.

The reason why a kicker is so important to a team is that an entire game can be altered by a missed extra point or field goal. With Ammendola on the team, though, head coach Robert Saleh hopes he has a guy who can be relied on to put it through the uprights every time. 

Loser: Blake Cashman, LB, NY Jets

The moment the 2021 NFL Draft ended, Jets fans took notice of the linebacker position. Outside of C.J. Mosley and Blake Cashman, the Jets had little experience at the position.

New York then revealed its game plan — to convert college safeties Hamsah Nasirildeen and Jamien Sherwood to linebacker. This being a position switch that defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich has successfully done in the past during his time with the Atlanta Falcons. 

It was thanks to the presence of Cashman that many expected him to lock down the starting job until one of the rookies was ready. Entering year three in the league, Cashman still has upside too. Or so one might have thought. 

When taken in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL Draft, Cashman was viewed as a potential steal. The Minnesota product is a smart player, but has struggled to translate that to the pros. In two years, he has played 11 games (six starts) and saw the majority of his playtime last year on special teams. 

Early on in the spring, Nasirildeen began earning first-team reps and quickly stole them entirely from Cashman. Just like that, Cashman lost the weakside linebacker starting job.

One may have thought, when Davis got hurt, that Cashman would get another opportunity to start. Instead, Sherwood immediately stepped into the role. Thus, leaving the Jets' second-most experienced linebacker with the second-team defense for 2021. 

Chances are that Cashman will make the roster. He had a strong night against the Eagles (five tackles), though he may find himself as a special teams staple yet again. 

Winner: Robert Saleh’s motto

“All gas, no brake.”

Back in January, the Jets announced the hiring of new head coach Robert Saleh. In his introductory press conference, the former San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator introduced his mantra to the team and fan base.

And the rest is history.

Now, it would be easy to say Saleh has already become the most beloved Jets head coach in recent memory because he was replacing Adam Gase. But when one looks at the big picture right now on One Jets Drive, it may actually be true.

When was the last time there was so much optimism and hope surrounding the Jets? Certainly not in the Todd Bowles era, and definitely not during the Gase days. Between his natural leadership skills and own passion for the game, Saleh has the fan base’s full support.

More importantly, his team has begun to embrace the “All gas, no brake” mentality. Simply look at the game they just played Friday against the Eagles.

The Eagles extended their lead to 24-10 just before halftime, having all the momentum in the world on their side. Things certainly did not help the Jets when they punted on the first drive of the second half.

Yet, this team never let up on the gas pedal. With guys like James Morgan, Josh Adams, and Kenny Yeboah leading the way, New York clawed their way back into the game and finished in style. 

The biggest difference from the 2020 Jets to the 2021 Jets is at head coach. Last year, everyone was counting down the days until Adam Gase would be fired.

Now, everyone is counting down the days until Robert Saleh notches career win No. 1 as the head coach of the NY Jets.