FINAL ANSWERS
Jets seek clarity in last exhibition game
PHILADELPHIA — The 2016 preseason ends Thursday night for the Jets against the Eagles. The Jets do not have a ton of questions as they enter the regular season, but there are still a few to clear up.
General manager Mike Maccagnan and coach Todd Bowles must make some roster and depth-chart decisions this weekend. Rosters need to be cut to 53 by 4 p.m. Saturday.
“There’s quite a few [roster spots] open,” Bowles said this week. “There’s quite a few guys I want to see. There’s quite a few guys that were nicked up that didn’t get a chance to play that have a chance to prove themselves. When they get to play a whole game, you get to see them when they’re fatigued, you get to see them play special teams, you get a good look at them when they’re playing offense and defense, so you get a good gauge of what kind of guy you’re getting because they’ll get a lot of playing time this game. We’ll see. But there’s quite a few.”
There are also a few starting spots that Bowles has to decide on before the team returns to practice Monday to prepare for the regular-season opener with the Bengals on Sept. 11.
Here are five pressing questions entering the game Thursday:
1. Is Jace Amaro safe?
The 2014 second-round pick had a really strong start to training camp, but has fallen off since. He has done virtually nothing in the games, and missed last week’s game with the Giants because of a groin injury.
This coaching staff has never seemed to embrace Amaro, perhaps because of his liabilities as a blocker. He could be in jeopardy this weekend. Amaro is fighting with Kellen Davis, Zach Sudfeld and Brandon Bostick at tight end. Davis’ spot looks secure with the others all up in the air.
2. Who is the fourth cornerback?
It looks pretty clear that Darrelle Revis, Buster Skrine and Marcus Williams are the top three cornerbacks. After that, it’s murky. Dee Milliner, the 2013 first-round pick, has fallen down the depth chart during training camp and missed practice this week with a hamstring injury. Milliner’s $4 million salary is guaranteed, so he’s going to be on the team, but he may not see the field much. Rookie Juston Burris has impressed the coaches and could secure some playing time with a strong outing against the Eagles.
3. Will any of the young receivers lock up a spot?
Jalin Marshall, Charone Peake and Robby Anderson have all had their moments in training camp and the preseason games. It seems unlikely the Jets can keep all three on the roster. One or two could solidify their case with a strong f inale.
4. Who is going to start at outside linebacker?
Lorenzo Mauldin and Jordan Jenkins have been penciled in at outside linebacker all summer. Jenkins had an impressive rookie camp before suffering a calf injury that kept him out of the Giants game and will sideline him Thursday, too. Mauldin has not shown the jump the Jets were hoping for. The Jets ran a lot of 4-3 last week against the Giants, perhaps an admission that they are better off without Mauldin on the field. It would help Mauldin’s cause to get to the Eagles’ quarterbacks.
5. Who replaces Breno Giacomini at right tackle?
Brent Qvale and Ben Ijalana have split the reps pretty evenly this summer. It looks pretty certain Giacomini will not be ready for Week 1. This will be the coaches’ final look at these two to see who should get the start against the Bengals.