FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Optimism is overflowing again for the New York Jets in training camp.
This time, though, they believe they have the overall talent for it to be more than just preseason hype.
“You know, I’ve been a part of a Super Bowl team in 2019 when I was on the Niners,” cornerback D.J. Reed said after practice Saturday. “And I would definitely say, like, this team is definitely on that trajectory.”
Similar things were said during the dog days of camp last summer, especially with Aaron Rodgers leading the way. That all changed, of course, four snaps into the quarterback’s debut in the season opener when he tore his left Achilles tendon.
The Jets finished 7-10 and missed the playoffs for the 13th straight season, the NFL’s longest active postseason drought.
But Rodgers is back and healthy, again looking good in the early practices of camp while connecting with third-year receiver Garrett Wilson on a daily basis. And Reed sees comparisons up and down the roster to the 2019 49ers — whose defense was led by current Jets coach Robert Saleh — who lost 31–20 to the Kansas City Chiefs.
“Just looking at that team, you know, I feel like our offense is honestly better just with Aaron,” Reed said. “With Garrett, I feel like Garrett’s going to have a really big year. And we still don’t even have (injured wide receiver) Mike Williams. So him coming into the picture, that could totally change things for the positive. Even (Allen) Lazard, he’s been playing great as well in the beginning of training camp.
“And then our defense, it’s self-explanatory what we’ve done the last two years. So hopefully we keep building on that. So, we definitely have a chance to win it all.”
It might sound like bold talk to some, but Reed is not alone in his confidence.
Rodgers said Wednesday: “The goal is New Orleans” — referring to the site of this season’s Super Bowl.
Even Saleh acknowledged the Jets thought last year the team would make a leap and at least get to the playoffs — and make a run.
“Last year, we really felt like we were getting ready to take that third-year leap, similar to what Detroit experienced this year,” said Saleh, entering his fourth season leading the Jets. “Obviously, it didn’t work out the way we wanted it to, but this year’s going to be fun.”
Again, a lot of that depends on Rodgers, who — if healthy — should immediately improve an offense that finished among the bottom of the league in several categories.
That put extra stress on a defense that was strong for most of the season, but found itself constantly on the field.
“I’m not gonna lie, especially towards the end of the season, it was real tough because we’re not going to the playoffs,” Reed said. “You still want to put who you are on tape, but, you know, it was tough. We weren’t scoring touchdowns and coming to games basically saying, like, if we give up a touchdown, we’re going to lose this game. So we’ve got to either score on defense or we can’t give up a touchdown. Playing like that is mentally tough especially at corner. …
“So now being up, there’s going to be more opportunities, more chances to be able to bait and take stuff. So I’m definitely looking forward to that.”
NOTES: Saleh said CB Brandin Echols has bruised ribs, but isn’t concerned about it being a long-term injury. … The Jets signed QB Adrian Martinez and CB Kendall Sheffield and waived QB Ben Bryant and CB Nehemiah Shelton. Martinez was selected MVP of the United Football League last season, and was the championship game MVP after leading the Birmingham Stallions to the UFL title.
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