Zach Wilson's inconsistencies and 4 takeaways from NY Jets OTAs

The NY Jets have officially wrapped up their 2022 OTAs as the final voluntary practice of the offseason came to a close this past Thursday. Next stop, mandatory minicamp.

The Jets will officially kick off minicamp this coming Tuesday as all players on the roster will be required to attend. That goes for the likes of Mekhi Becton, Carl Lawson, or any of a number of players who weren't there for all of OTAs for one reason or another.

As always, it's difficult to fully gauge anything from just the OTA period. Head coach Robert Saleh had his team participate in just one 11-on-11 drill per practice and primarily lined up in 7-on-7 sets.

Notably, the Jets didn't practice their running game, so it was especially difficult for running backs or trench players to stand out. It should come as no surprise that you won't find any of those players mentioned on this list.

It's best to take spring practices with a grain of salt — that goes for both OTAs and minicamp. Following the Jets' three-day mandatory minicamp, players will be given a six-week vacation before they reconvene for training camp in July.

That's when things really start to get going and proper narratives can begin to formulate. But for now, all we have to go off of are the four practices the media was permitted to attend during OTAs.

Let's take a look at four takeaways from the Jets' 2022 OTAs.

4. Lamarcus Joyner's starting job is not safe

There were a few veteran players absent from some of the OTAs this spring, one of whom was safety Lamarcus Joyner. Joyner's continued absence opened the door for a couple of younger players on the roster to step up and receive valuable first-team reps.

And those filling his shoes did not disappoint.

2021 fifth-round pick Jason Pinnock was the primary beneficiary as the converted safety lined up with the starters for the majority of the four open-media OTA sessions. He made the most of his snaps too, even intercepting an errant Zach Wilson pass during last Thursday's practice.

Pinnock transitioned from cornerback to safety last season and showed plenty of promise down the stretch. The Jets believe that with a full offseason to train at his new position, the former Pittsburgh standout could emerge as a legitimate player on defense.

He's certainly looking to prove them right, and it speaks volumes that the Jets see him as their primary backup free safety right now.

Pinnock hasn't been the only safety to stand out, however, as former third-round pick Ashtyn Davis has been one of the stars of the spring so far (more on him later).

All of this is to say that Joyner's starting job isn't exactly written in stone. If Pinnock and Davis continue to excel, they could push for Joyner's job this summer.

3. Tyler Conklin may be the NY Jets' TE1

Tyler Conklin is another player who's been the beneficiary of his teammates' absences. C.J. Uzomah and Jeremy Ruckert were sidelined for OTAs while dealing with minor injuries.

In their absence, Conklin did his best to prove why he should be the Jets' top tight end entering the 2022 season. He more than made the most of his reps.

Conklin hauled in multiple touchdowns in red-zone drills and seemed to become Zach Wilson's safety blanket after a while. The two are developing important chemistry, all while Uzomah and Ruckert were left watching from the sidelines.

Signed to a three-year, $21 million contract in the offseason, many assumed that Uzomah would get the first crack at being the Jets' de facto "TE1." After all, Uzomah is getting paid slightly more and he has more starting experience than his position-mate.

But following his strong performance at OTAs, Conklin might now have the early edge. Some are even predicting that he'll be the Jets' top tight end "by a decent margin."

The Jets completely reshaped their tight end room in the offseason meaning that every player is on an equal playing field. Conklin has quickly become the first to emerge from the rest of the pack.

It's still too early to make any declarative statements, but right now, Conklin appears to have the inside track to be the Jets' top tight end.

2. Ashtyn Davis primed for a breakout season?

In the four OTA practices that were open to the media, no player has shined more than safety Ashtyn Davis. The former third-round pick is looking to finally make good on the potential that led him to be a top-70 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Davis has been flying all around the field on defense, showing more instincts and polish in coverage than he has in the past. He recorded interceptions in consecutive practices on Wednesday and Thursday including a highlight-reel one-handed grab that was perhaps the play of the spring so far.

It should be noted that the Jets exclusively practiced passing drills which does play more to Davis' strengths. The 25-year-old has been wildly inconsistent in run defense over his first two years in the league due in large part to his unrefined style of play.

The Jets knew they were drafting a developmental project when they chose Davis 68th overall three years ago. Unfortunately, his development has been stunted as a result of injuries and other misfortunes.

The COVID-19 pandemic forced him to miss out on spring practices as a rookie before a significant foot injury cut his first NFL campaign short. That same foot injury would cause him to be sidelined for all of training camp the following year.

Davis hasn't had a full offseason to grow and develop alongside his teammates to this point. The Jets are hoping that this extra development could unlock the potential the team once saw in him.

It's too early to suggest that a breakout year might be in the cards, but don't write Ashtyn Davis off just yet.

1. Zach Wilson struggles with consistency

Once again, it's important to take everything that happens during OTAs with a significant grain of salt. Players are still shaking off the rust and the drills they're running hardly resemble an actual NFL game.

Now, with that out of the way, let's talk a little about Zach Wilson. Wilson wasn't very good in the four OTA sessions open to the media.

That isn't to say that he didn't have his fair share of highlights — only that those highlights were overshadowed by what could best be described as inconsistent play.

For the better part of the four practices, Wilson struggled with his accuracy and looked rather indecisive at times. The combination of the two resulted in three interceptions over the final two practices and a few almost turnovers.

There were times when Wilson looked comfortable and confident in the pocket. He connected with wide receiver D.J. Montgomery on a beautifully thrown deep ball this past Wednesday. He fired a laser over the middle of the field to rookie wideout Garrett Wilson who unfortunately dropped the ball as he fell to the turf.

Wilson had his moments, but as a whole, his play was mostly erratic and inconsistent.

This shouldn't necessarily be a cause for concern just yet. It is only June, after all. This is the time to iron out all the kinks, familiarize yourself with your new teammates, and get back into the swing of things.

The real concern will come if Wilson doesn't show progress in training camp and the preseason. For now, everything should be business as usual for the Jets.

But whenever a young, unproven QB struggles, even if it's just during OTAs, it has to be noted.