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Rich Cimini, ESPN Staff Writer
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — A look at what’s happening around the New York Jets:
1. Party like it’s 1996: It was perhaps the ugliest season in Jets history — 1996, the year they went 1-15 under Rich Kotite. For older fans, it’s a haunting memory, best left buried in the recesses of the history books.
But, wait! Out of that muck comes this shiny nugget:
Despite the losing, the Jets scored three offensive touchdowns in four straight games that season, something they haven’t done since (the quarterback was Frank Reich, who would become an NFL head coach). Nearly three decades later, they will try to equal that feat Sunday after scoring three in each of the first three games.
By far, the Jets (2-1) own the longest active drought without a four-game streak of three offensive touchdowns, according to ESPN Research. We’re talking 18 years longer than the next-closest team — the Denver Broncos, whom they face at MetLife Stadium in Week 4.
Is that mind-boggling or what?
Typically, teams average about 2.5 touchdowns per game, so stringing together a few good games doesn’t seem that hard. Then again, offense is hard for the Jets, who generated a league-low 18 touchdowns in 2023 and haven’t produced a top-10 scoring offense since 2008.
The man who presided over last season’s mess, offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, can take some satisfaction in seeing positive results, thanks to a huge boost from a healthy Aaron Rodgers. Hackett downplayed the early results, saying there’s plenty of room for improvement.
“The expectation is to score touchdowns, and a lot of them,” Hackett said. “That’s what we’re hunting.”
2. All on the wrist: Keen observers may have noticed a subtle change in Rodgers’ game-day attire. He’s wearing a wristband with a play sheet, something he didn’t do in his only appearance last season.
He used a wristband during his last few seasons with the Green Bay Packers under coach Matt LaFleur, whose system is like Hackett’s in that it’s very wordy — common for a West Coast-style offense. The play sheet helps streamline the process.
3. Zach’s back: Three quarterbacks drafted by the Jets are on other teams. Two of them, Sam Darnold (Minnesota Vikings) and Geno Smith (Seattle Seahawks), are a combined 6-0. The third is Zach Wilson, who is attempting to reboot his career as the Broncos’ QB3 after three disappointing seasons with the Jets.
The Jets had nothing but kind things to say about Wilson. The consensus opinion: A talented player who needed to get out of the New York pressure-cooker, giving him a chance to mature in a less stressful environment.
“I still stand here and believe that he’s going to have a hell of a career,” coach Robert Saleh said.
Rodgers said he still keeps tabs on Wilson, adding that they communicate “here and there.” He considers Wilson a “little brother” even though their relationship was reportedly strained last season. Rodgers said he hopes his former understudy can benefit from a reset in Denver.
Wilson, drafted No. 2 overall in 2021, wanted out last season and was traded before the draft. The Jets didn’t get much in return — a sixth-round pick for Wilson and a seventh-rounder.
4. Well-traveled pick: If you’re wondering what happened to that draft pick from the Wilson trade (No. 203 overall), well, the Jets used it in a draft-day swap with the Vikings. The Jets gave up that pick, along with the 10th pick, to acquire the 11th pick and two other draft choices.
In a way, the Jets helped the Vikings secure what could be their quarterback of the future, J.J. McCarthy, chosen 10th overall. At 11, the Jets happily selected the player they were prepared to take at 10 — tackle Olu Fashanu, who makes his first start Sunday.
5. Another Brick in the wall? Rodgers said Fashanu reminds him of former Jets tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson, who retired in 2016. That’s quite a compliment, considering Ferguson is a member of the team’s Ring of Honor.
Size-wise, they’re virtually identical: Ferguson, 6-foot-6, 310 pounds; Fashanu, 6-foot-6, 312, based on their scouting-combine measurements. Ferguson was always considered a quiet, consistent worker. Fashanu is developing the same reputation.
Ferguson was a Day 1 starter in 2006. Fashanu is replacing right tackle Morgan Moses (knee). It probably will be a two- or three-game gig. One thing to remember about Fashanu: He’s new to right tackle, having played left tackle his entire life. His experience at right tackle consists of 42 snaps — 14 last week, 28 in one preseason game.
6. Undefeated on long rest: Let’s face it, Rodgers has produced countless positive trends in his career — he didn’t win four MVPs by accident — but this one is particularly noteworthy considering the circumstances:
He’s 13-0 in home games with at least nine days rest, per ESPN Research. His stats in those games: 32 touchdowns, eight interceptions and an average of 295 passing yards. He’s facing the Broncos on nine days rest.
7. Reddick fine check: It’s another lost game check ($792,000) for holdout Haason Reddick, bringing his four-week total to $3.16 million in lost salary. Additionally, he has accumulated $4.5 million in mandatory fines, plus another $1.4 million in discretionary fines.
If the holdout extends beyond the fourth week of the regular season, which is now, the team is allowed to recoup 1/18th of what remains from his pro-rated signing bonus. That occurs each week, maxing out at $2.74 million. He already has sacrificed roughly half the pro-rated bonus because of his holdout.
8. Fixed in a snap: They were some of the toughest days of Joe Tippmann‘s football life. Early in training camp, out of the blue, he started misfiring with his shotgun snaps. His high snaps made Rodgers seem like he was on a pogo stick.
Tippmann credited Rodgers with helping him through the ordeal. His quarterback offered advice and encouragement, even joking that he wanted Tippmann to purposely fire snaps at his feet. That lightened the mood.
“I have all the trust in the world with him, especially with him getting me right, getting me on the same page as him,” Tippmann said.
9. A Surtain look: Receivers coach Shawn Jefferson, trying to explain Garrett Wilson‘s intensity, mentioned the tattoo on the receiver’s arm: “TTWFO” — ‘Til the wheels fall off.
Wilson will need to employ that mindset as he battles through a period in which he’s drawing extra attention from defenses. Jefferson said the coaches “have to do a better job of moving him around” the formation, including the slot, to create favorable matchups.
On Sunday, he’s expected to see a lot of Broncos star cornerback Pat Surtain II.
10. The Last Word: “That’s old news … I honestly haven’t thought about it until you just brought it up.” Rodgers on whether Sean Payton’s derogatory comments last year about Hackett will be a source of motivation Sunday. Rodgers was injured for last season’s game against Denver — aka Hackett-Payton I.
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