Which Jets Are You Most Looking Forward to Seeing Play Against the Panthers?
Throughout the offseason, NewYorkJets.com reporters Eric Allen, Ethan Greenberg, Randy Lange, Caroline Hendershot and John Pullano will give their responses to a series of questions regarding this year’s Jets.
Today’s question: Which Jets are you most looking forward to seeing play against the Panthers?
EA: I’ll take a quartet of Jets – T Olu Fashanu, WR Malachi Corley and cornerbacks Jarrick Bernard-Converse and Qwan’tez Stiggers. Fashanu, who had a solid preseason debut in a couple of quarters against the Commanders, cross-trained at RT throughout the week. A left tackle at Penn State, Fashanu, the No. 11 overall selection in April’s NFL Draft, has handled the reps across the way in impressive fashion. He’ll likely start the regular season as a backup swing T behind Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses who would be a great starting option for many teams across the league. Corley had 4 receptions against Wahington and flashed with a 33-yard kick return while misplaying a punt that provided a valuable learning opportunity. The playmaker continues to progress as a receiver, and he has potential to help the Jets in the hidden yardage game. Defensively, the Jets have elite starters at cornerback. But I like the depth emerging with players like JBC and Stiggers. They both played well last week and have displayed confidence and moxie throughout camp.
EG: Without knowing who won’t play Saturday, I’m going with second-year WR Xavier Gipson. Gipson went down early in camp with a leg ailment, but throughout the spring and early parts of camp, he showed improvement as a wide receiver and seemed more confident in that role. Robert Saleh mentioned how he was more decisive getting upfield, something we’ve seen in practice, and I’m curious how it will translate to the game. We’ve seen young receivers flash throughout camp like Jason Brownlee and Irvin Charles, so there’s no reason to think Gipson shouldn’t be able to take a similar jump in Year 2 under OC Nathaniel Hackett. Gipson is listed as the team’s starting slot WR and returner on the unofficial depth chart. We know he has speed and a knack for the end zone as a return man — he scored the game-winning touchdown on a punt return in Week 1 last season and had 4 return scores in his final three seasons a Stephen F. Austin. Let’s see how he assimilates to the new rule.
