Beachum: Jags a stiff test for Gang’s ground game

Kelvin Beachum believes the Jets’ offensive line should be judged by the team’s record, and so it has performed “not well enough” through the team’s 1-2 start to the season, the left tackle said Monday.

But Sunday’s game against the Jaguars could be a telling one for the unit.

“This is one of those games that’s an identity game for us, where we have to be able to run the ball,” Beachum said on a conference call after practice. “They know that, we know that, coach [Todd] Bowles has talked about it and we gotta be able to go out and execute.”

The Jets have been solid on the ground, aside from mustering just 42 rushing yards against the Dolphins. Isa- iah Crowell and Bilal Powell are both averaging 4.5 yards per carry.

The Jaguars represent a different beast, though. Anchored by one of the top defensive fronts in the league, they have allowed only one rushing touchdown this season, while giving up 115.3 rushing yards per game.

“Outside of Minnesota and L.A. [Rams], they’re right up there at the top,” Beachum said.

The Jets opened the season with three games in 11 days — playing on a Monday night, Sunday afternoon and Thursday night — but are finally back on a regular schedule. Their next seven games, leading into a Week 11 bye, are all 1 p.m. Sunday kickoffs.

“At the end of the day, we’re profes- sionals,” Beachum said. “We get paid to play whenever the lights come on. … It’s great to get back on a regular schedule but that’s not an excuse for what’s happened thus far.”

Sunday will mark a reunion as the Jets meet their old teammate Austin Seferian-Jenkins. The tight end has nine catches for 66 yards and a touchdown for the Jaguars, with whom he signed after spending 1 ¹ /2 seasons in New York.

Bowles lauded Seferian-Jenkins for how he got his career back on track with the Jets after overcoming alcohol abuse, but said letting him go in free agency was “nothing personal.”

“The timing wasn’t right,” Bowles said. “He got away and that’s just part of free agency every year. We lose some and we keep some. But the guys have done a good job filling in right now.”

The Jets have not yet been victimized by the new roughing the passer penalty, but Bowles is still mystified by how it is being called around the NFL.

“I can’t explain it, it’s tough,” he said. “From my vantage point, the ones I have seen, those were some very good plays.”