The Jets wrapped up their sixth day of training camp. Here are the takeaways…
– There was optimism inside the Jets building that Haason Reddick, whom New York acquired via trade from the Eagles, would end his holdout and report on Monday. That was not the case. Reddick still isn’t in attendance and his absence is becoming a costly one. The Jets already fined Reddick $100,000 for missing minicamp. He’s been fined an additional $300,000 for the missed days of training camp ($50,000 per). Now, because he’s missed six, he’s subject to an additional fine (per the CBA) that is 15 percent of his prorated signing bonus ($300,000). Robert Saleh said he “assumes” the Jets will fine him that amount, which is not mandatory. That’s a total of $700,000. Remember: Reddick also forgoed a $250,000 workout bonus in his contract for attending the offseason program.
– Monday was the Jets’ first day in pads. It was also the worst practice for the offense – just a very sloppy day. Dropped passes that led to interceptions (Allen Lazard, Chuck Clark), missed blocking assignments and poor snaps (three from Joe Tippmann) had Aaron Rodgers yelling on multiple occasions. Rodgers finished 8 of 13 with the interception. He also took two sacks (Javon Kinlaw, Samuel Eguavoen). The Jets end every practice with a drive-the-field drill. The offense reached the red zone, but stalled after a sack (the entire pocket collapsed) and a throwaway.
– The poor snaps from Tippmann are becoming a trend. He’s had a couple each practice. Monday marked the first time Rodgers wasn’t able to survive them. He had to one-hand catch one before throwing it away. Another was so off that a lineman (couldn’t tell who) stepped on him as he was trying to get it, causing him to fall down on a handoff to Breece Hall. Tippmann later went off to the side and practiced with a positional coach. More alarming: The problems continued there. This is worth monitoring.
– The Jets drafted Will McDonald in the first round last year. Two high-ranking sources told me that night that they loved his upside, but in order for him to capitalize on it, he needed to gain “15-to-20 pounds.” They knew that wasn’t possible before his rookie season, but felt he could during the offseason/going into his second year. The Jets danced around McDonald weight questions during organized team activities and minicamp. On Monday, Saleh admitted that McDonald weighs “about the same” as his rookie year. He said he’s stronger (more muscle), but I can’t help but think back to those initial conversations. McDonald hasn’t flashed much in camp and others are beginning to work in front of him. Saleh said he needs to learn to go “through people,” not just around them. It’s clearly a work in progress.
– Running back Braelon Allen had a good day with two nice runs in the team period with the second-team offense. He broke one into the secondary, truck-sticked a defender, then stiff armed another. Hall is the Jets’ bell cow – no denying that. Allen is a very interesting prospect, though, who might fight for some play time. Either way: It doesn’t look like the Jets will lose a ton when Hall steps off.
– Lazard, who had an awful first season with the Jets that saw him inactive toward the end of the season, spoke for the first time this summer. He said his goal is to “reestablish (my) value to this team” and that he “learned a lot about (himself)” in 2023. Lazard has had a good start to camp, ending two separate practices with red-zone touchdowns. His drop on Monday did lead to an interception (Clark), though. Of note: Lazard said he retired (for the time being) the soccer ball he used to warm up with.