In just 72 hours, the New York Jets will be playing a preseason contest against the Washington Commanders.
While this is normally a time for players fighting for attention across the NFL to make a name for themselves, the Jets have quite a few players fighting for their football lives over the next few weeks.
It’s time to look at the five players who need a strong preseason performance on Saturday and over the next few weeks.
5 Jets Who Need Strong Preseason Performances
It’s important to remember that while some of these players on the list appear to be safe from any potential cutdown day, others are right on the border of making the team or potentially finding a new home elsewhere.
The big discrepancy between the different parties is that while some players may be safe on the 53-man roster, should an upgrade come in the form of a trade or signing, the safety of being a player at a position of value will no longer be there.
Let’s get to this list now:
Takk McKinley
At one point in training camp, McKinley had recorded six sacks in a span of three days. He was simply unblockable at one point two weeks ago.
That time has passed, though, and the former first-round pick by the Atlanta Falcons is just making his way back onto the field due to an undisclosed injury over the last few days.
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McKinley has all the tools to be special on a rotational defensive line like the one the Jets use, but he needs to come away with a couple in the preseason to stave off the likes of the UDFA players such as Eric Watts and Braiden McGregor.
Israel Abanikanda
The Jets drafted two running backs in the 2024 draft, and that put Abanikanda’s future with the team in doubt. Then, the organization signed Tarik Cohen as a role player and special teams star — only further casting doubt on Abanikanda’s future.
Even with Cohen making a surprise retirement decision, “Izzy’s” future with the Jets remains clouded. While the Jets could certainly keep four running backs on their team, it’s far more likely they use the extra roster spot on a receiver or offensive lineman instead.
The only way that changes is if Abanikanda dominates in the preseason, unlike anything Jets fans have seen out of him to this point.
Michael Clemons
Clemons may be a surprise on this list — simply because he’s penciled in as a starter on one of the best defenses in football — but there’s a method to this reasoning.
The former fourth-round pick was expected to replace John Franklin-Myers as New York’s “run-stuffing” defensive end. While he has looked good in practice at times, the Jets need to see more consistency in him if he’s to develop into the kind of quality starter JFM was over the last few years.
A strong performance from Clemons would also lower the need and importance of Haason Reddick continuing to be absent from team activities as he looks for a new contract.
Jason Brownlee
Unlike most of these roster bubble players, Brownlee could be a victim of circumstances — not because of performance.
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Should New York look to keep six receivers — any projection shows the former undrafted free agent on the outside looking in of the 53-man roster (Garrett Wilson, Mike Williams, Malachi Corley, Allen Lazard, Xavier Gipson, and Irv Charles).
Should New York boost that number to seven, Brownlee has a chance, but unless the Southern Mississippi star dominates in the preseason, it’s unlikely that there is a role for him right now.
Max Mitchell
Mitchell is another player who appears safe right now on the 53-man roster, no matter what happens in the preseason.
A strong preseason game, though, could allow Mitchell to be seen as an immediate backup at both guard and tackle should something happen to Morgan Moses or Alijah Vera-Tucker (both come into 2024 with injury concerns).
If Mitchell cannot produce at a high level, that would force 11th overall pick Olu Fashanu to cross-train at right tackle instead of his natural left tackle position. It would make the former mid-round pick expendable in that regard.
He’s looked good in the preseason, but Mitchell definitely needs to show out over these next few weeks.