As we do every year, we’re going to mark preseason with a series of fan-sourced roster projections. The idea is that as players make their case in each preseason game this will be reflected in the next leg of the relay, along with other developments such as injuries.
Who better to take the baton and run with it than someone who has been imparting wisdom on this site for several years, a man whose football taeks are rivalled only by his own food and uniform taeks: “Gunmetal” Gregg Reen …
QB (2)
Rodgers, Taylor
Jordan Travis IR stash
There is a novella by Steven L. Peck titled A Short Stay in Hell. In it, a man named Soren, a lifelong Mormon, dies and learns that he has chosen the wrong god and has been sent to a Zoroastrian hell. We chose the wrong backup QB god in 2023—a Mormon, no less. Seems fitting. It’s hard to comprehend the addition by subtraction of the jets QB room. I, for one, am looking forward to seeing the difference an NFL-caliber QB makes.
(Editor’s note: Changes since last leg – Peasley and Travis out)
RB (4)
Hall, Davis, Allen, La’Mical Perine
(Editor’s note: Gregg…)
Where Perine goes, the rings follow. I don’t make the rules. The truth is, the room could use another body; preferably one with NFL experience and not yet over the hill. Thankfully, the position is devalued across the league, so adding someone to the roster who meets these criteria should not be all that difficult.
Here’s Stephan A Smith trying to pronounce La’Mical Perine’s name #Jets pic.twitter.com/PqPPDwZSOQ
— Jake (@JakeRepNY) August 16, 2021
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
(Editor’s note: Changes since last leg – Perine in)
TE (4)
Conklin, Ruckert, Yeboah, Firkser
(Editor’s note: Changes since last leg – Yeboah in)
OL (10)
Smith, Simpson, Tippmann, AVT, Moses, OLU, WES, Max Mitchell, Carter Warren, Royce Newman
Royce is listed as a likely camp cut with Green Bay selecting three offensive linemen in this year’s draft. He brings scheme familiarity and versatility with 24 career starts (21 at right guard, two at left guard, one at right tackle). He can back up multiple positions. Not very well, mind you, but as the 10th man on the depth chart, what more can you ask for?
(Editor’s note: Changes since last leg – Newman in)
DL (10)
Q, Kinlaw, JJ, Clemons, McDonald, LTIII, Soloman (sic), Fotu, Watts, Takk McKinley
Reddick remains on the Reserve/Did Not Report list to start the season
(Editor’s note: Changes since last leg – Reddick out, Fotu, Watts, McKinley, LTIII in)
LB (5)
Mosely, Quincy, Sherwood, Surratt, Eguavoen
(Editor’s note: Changes since last leg – Eguavoen in, Barnes, McCrary-Ball out)
CB (5)
Sauce, Reed, Carter, Stiggers, Bernard-Converse
It might seem light at the position, but remember, we often went into the season with six corners, one of whom was Hardee, so it was basically five back then, too.
(Editor’s note: Changes since last leg – Echols out)
Safety (4)
Oliver, Davis, Adams, Clark
(Editor’s note: Changes since last leg – Key out)
Special Teams (3)
Morestead (sic), Zuerlein, Hennessy
(Editor’s note: A fine 53, I’m sure you’ll agree. Apart, of course, from the fact he only named 46 players including zero wide receivers. For simplicity, we’ll just assume he stuck with the same seven guys that Bubby had in his first leg…although knowing Gregg he probably was going to trade for Braxton Berrios and try to convert Allen Lazard to center or something…)
WIDE RECEIVER (7)
5 Garrett Wilson WR 6-0 192 Ohio State
17 Malachi Corley WR 5-11 210 Western Kentucky
10 Allen Lazard WR 6-5 227 Iowa State
82 Xavier Gipson WR 5-8 189 Stephen F. Austin
19 Irvin Charles WR 6-4 219 Indiana (PA)
16 Jason Brownlee WR 6-2 198 Southern Miss
18 Mike Williams WR 6-4 218 Clemson
Now, back to Gregg for the final word…
If you’ll recall, I had two predictions in my last 53-man roster: the first being that not only would Ashtyn Davis make the roster, but he would also be signed beyond the 2023 season; the second was that the Jets would trade for Davante Adams. The latter will finally come to fruition before the 2024 trade deadline.
WHY? HOW? good questions. Allow me to explain:
My fellow fixers, we can look forward to a season filled with renewed hope and potential as the Jets aim to build on their recent improvements and turn promises into performance on the field. I’d like to leave you with some fun facts from 2002: Gas was $1.39 per gallon, a movie ticket cost $5.80, a pizza pie was $12.00, a basic cell phone cost $100.00, and monthly internet service was $21.00. Why is this relevant? Simple. These were the prices of everyday goods the last time the Jets won the division—a title that will return this season.
Boys, the time is now.
(Editor’s Note: The next leg will follow after the Panthers game)
Would you like to take the baton for the a lap of the track? We just need your 53-man projection and we’ll make note of what’s changed – and you’re free to add insights if you wish. Volunteer in the comments section below…