Jets' Projected Winners of Key Position Battles
The New York Jets have known for quite some time who will top their offensive depth chart.
They have far more questions surrounding the spots behind Breece Hall, Garrett Wilson and Mike Williams that will hopefully get settled by the end of the third preseason game.
The Jets may have a clear front-runner in the race to become Hall's backup at running back, a position that may be vital in 2024 so they do not have to rely on the star ball carrier for all three downs.
The race to become the No. 3 wide receiver holds a little less clarity because Xavier Gipson missed a few days of practice with a small injury.
Gipson is expected to play a major role in that competition, but rookie Malachi Corley will make a push for that position over the next few weeks.
Backup Running Back
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The backup running back competition will probably go down to the final snaps earned by Braelon Allen, Isaiah Davis and Israel Abanikanda in the third preseason game.
Allen appears to have an advantage after one preseason contest.
The rookie out of Wisconsin averaged nine yards per carry in the 20-17 win over the Washington Commanders last week.
Allen carried the ball on six occasions for 54. No other running back on the Jets roster had more than 20 rushing yards.
Davis played a more prominent role in the passing game with four catches for 33 yards. He managed just eight yards on four carries.
Abanikanda, the incumbent backup, only earned 17 yards on six carries.
Allen may have the backup role wrapped up by the the end of the second preseason game against the Carolina Panthers, but there's always room for Davis and Abanikanda to improve.
Allen and Davis are the likely No. 2 and No. 3 backs, which may leave Abanikanda fighting for a roster spot, but that will be determined by the final two weeks of preseason.
Projected Winner: Braelon Allen
No. 3 Wide Receiver
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The wide receiver position is much harder to grade in preseason because all of the players at the position are catching balls from backups and not Aaron Rodgers.
Malachi Corley made the best of his preseason situation with four catches for 27 yards against the Commanders.
The rookie out of Western Kentucky had the most catches of any Jets wide receiver and tied with Davis for the most receptions on the team.
Corley's performance will not guarantee his spot as the No. 3 wide receiver, though, since Xavier Gipson can prove he belongs there in the next preseason game. Gipson missed a week of practice with an injury.
The Jets also have to figure out what to do with Allen Lazard, who may be the team's highest-profile training camp cut.
Jason Brownlee could make a push for one of the final roster spots in preseason. He had one catch for 12 yards versus Washington, but he is not viewed as a candidate for the No. 3 role.
Gipson's play last season should help him keep the role over Corley for now, but the two may battle for snaps as the regular season goes on, which is not a bad thing for the Jets offense.
Projected Winner: Xavier Gipson
Defensive Tackle
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The Jets made it a point in the offseason to add help next to Quinnen Williams at defensive tackle.
Javon Kinlaw should be the Week 1 starter next to Williams, but he does have some competition from Leki Fotu and Solomon Thomas.
Fotu was the only one of the three who played in the first preseason game and he only had one tackle.
The Jets will likely determine the starting defensive tackle opposite Williams by play in training camp practices.
Kinlaw, who is coming off his best statistical season with the San Francisco 49ers, should take that role as long as he looks strong in practice.
Thomas did have five sacks for the Jets last season and Fotu had a solid campaign for the Arizona Cardinals, but right now, Kinlaw is ahead of them on the depth chart.
The Jets would love to have four defensive tackles to rotate throughout games, and that may be the case, but the starting role will likely belong to Kinlaw.
Projected Winner: Javon Kinlaw
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