Hackenberg receives extra reps with Jets first team

Perhaps a true quarterback competition will soon begin.

Though veteran Josh McCown still spent most of Monday’s practice with the first team, 22-year-old Christian Hackenberg received his most reps with the top unit in training camp. Hackenberg, who took 21 overall reps, had six opportunities with the first team, and overall went 10-of-21 with one touchdown.

Following practice, coach Todd Bowles said Hackenberg might continue to see increased time with the first team.

“It’s possible,” Bowles said. “It’s the second week of camp. We’ll rotate them and evaluate them as we see fit.”

Bowles said he has not yet decided who will start against the Titans in the first preseason game Saturday. Sheldon Richardson continued his verbal assault on former teammate Bran

don Marshall, reiterating that he’s glad the wide receiver is no longer with the Jets.

“We’d lose and then he’d do little things that are drama queenish,” Richardson said on ESPN radio’s The Michael Kay Show. “He’s dogging out this guy, that guy, it’s everybody’s fault except his. There’s a reason this, and reason that. Everybody pointing the finger when you’re losing and nobody wanted to say something to him. Then I say something to him, the criminal, the bad guy and the media just ran with it. That man knows what he did to the locker room a little bit. I was the one that addressed it and still will address it to today. If he can’t come out on media and tell them what he did and how he actually quit on this team way before the season was over, then that’s all in itself.

“I might be a problem to the front office, but as far as the locker room goes, me and my guys ride forever.”

Linebacker Darron Lee, entering his second season, looked to another team to find help. He received advice from Panthers Pro Bowler Luke Kuechly, who also has Tom Condon as his agent. “That guy’s been a huge resource,” Lee said of Kuechly. “He’s been a huge help.”

Even bigger has been Lee’s increased comfort with the Jets playbook, which he believes will make him much more consistent this season.

“Last year, you guys could ask a call, I probably couldn’t tell you about it,” Lee said. “Now I know what to expect on the field. ”