Jets practice report: Zach Wilson still impressive as the receivers keep pace

New York jets quarterback Zach Wilson, left, drops back for a pass as running back Tevin Coleman (23) sets up in front of him and quarterbacks coach Rob Calabrese runs in front of Coleman during an NFL football practice Wednesday, June 2, 2021, in Florham Park, N.J. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
By Connor Hughes
Jun 8, 2021

There was one easy way to describe Zach Wilson’s performance through the first two weeks of the Jets’ organized team activities: The rookie quarterback didn’t look like a rookie quarterback.

It wasn’t always great, but not nearly as sloppy as is expected of first-year passers in their first NFL practices. Seldom did his throws hit the ground, rarely did miscommunications lead to turnovers, and never did Wilson appear out of place — all positives.

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Monday, the Jets began the third and final week of voluntary on-field workouts. The media attended on Tuesday.

Saying Wilson didn’t resemble a rookie was still accurate, but didn’t exactly do his performance much justice.

Wilson looked good.

Really, really good.

It started early — like on the first play of team drills. Wilson threw a perfect, 40-plus-yard pass down the right sideline to fellow rookie Elijah Moore, who made a diving grab past Bryce Hall. The Jets broke their previously scripted practice beginning to drive the ball against their defense on Tuesday. Wilson came off after that throw to Moore, but when he came back on, he fired lasers to Braxton Berrios on skinny posts for a pair of first downs.

Among the more impressive traits displayed by Wilson so far is his arm maturity. He has the fastball, but knows when to take something off. The next time he stepped on the field, he dropped a perfectly placed pass over cornerback Jason Pinnock’s head, before the closing safety, and into the arms of receiver Keelan Cole for another first down. The offensive sideline erupted.

He wasn’t done.

After some special teams and 7-on-7 work, the Jets again brought their full offense and defense together for unscripted play-calling. The Wilson-led offense ran seven plays. Wilson threw five times. He completed four, highlighted by two more first-down completions to Berrios.

The Jets ended practice with three sets of 7-on-7 drills, the final in the red zone. Wilson, as was the case throughout the afternoon, shined again. His best throw: One to Moore, running across the back of the end zone, just before reaching the left pylon for a touchdown.

Wilson completed 9 of 12 passes in team drills. He went 8-of-15 with a pair of touchdowns in 7-on-7 work, but four of his incompletions were ugly drops by Tyler Kroft (three) and Denzel Mims. This wasn’t about looking good for a rookie — it was a damn good practice by any standard.

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Perspective, obviously, is needed. These are padless practices. No contact is allowed. The Jets are only in the third week of their offensive and defensive on-field installation, so what Wilson is seeing on the practice field is rudimentary math compared to the rocket science that awaits him come September. But on Tuesday, offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur turned up the aggressiveness of his play-calling. Wilson responded with his best practice of the summer. Pads or no pads, Wilson’s success the last three weeks is much better than if he struggled to swim.

So, what’s next?

The Jets have one more OTA open to the media on Thursday. Then, next week, they begin mandatory minicamp. If Wilson continues on this trajectory, well, training camp is going to be awfully interesting.

Here are a few more takeaways from Tuesday’s practice.

Roll call

The Jets are still without left tackle Mekhi Becton, who’s dealing with a foot injury. He wasn’t out at practice for the first portion, but later joined his teammates on the sideline. Also in the rehab area: Receiver Corey Davis (shoulder), linebacker Blake Cashman, corner Bless Austin, defensive tackle Foley Fatukasi, defensive tackle Jonathan Marshall and receiver Lawrence Cager.

Safety Ashtyn Davis wasn’t at practice, but the Jets said he’s been inside at meetings. Receivers Jeff Smith and Denzel Mims both practiced.

Defensive end Carl Lawson, who wasn’t in Florham Park for the first two weeks of OTAs, was there on Tuesday. Guard Alex Lewis, safety Marcus Maye, receiver Jamison Crowder and defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins were not. Neither was tight end Chris Herndon.

Some perspective is needed

As good as Wilson looks … he is doing it against a subpar secondary. The Jets wanted to give the young guys reps before figuring out if they need to acquire a veteran. Having watched these practices, it’s clear someone like Richard Sherman or Steven Nelson wouldn’t hurt. Nelson is probably a bit more realistic because Sherman wants to play for a winner, and hasn’t ever lived on the East Coast.

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The Jets trotted out Bryce Hall, Jason Pinnock and Michael Carter as their starting secondary on Tuesday. Hall and Pinnock took turns getting beat. There isn’t as much pressure on the corner position in Robert Saleh’s defense as Gregg Williams’, but it’s clear the Jets need another proven body there.

He keeps getting better

It’s getting exhausting writing about Moore because what else is there to say? He’s making plays in the slot and split wide. He’s getting open deep and short. He’s virtually uncoverable near the goal line. Every day he does something else that makes you turn your head.

You’ll hear all about his red-zone touchdown, or the diving catch on the first play of practice, but he made another grab near the left sideline that was equally impressive. He ran a little 5-yard out, then lunged forward to make a fingertip grab before going out of bounds for a first down.

I don’t really want to write about Moore any moore (pun-y!), but it’s impossible not to. He’s been the most impressive player at OTAs (on either side of the ball) and it’s not really close.

Second-year slump

The presumed receiver depth chart might have been a little off. The Jets seem to like ex-Jaguar Keelan Cole as the No. 2 next to (an eventually healthy) Davis. Mims, since returning from injury, is working almost exclusively with the second-team offense, only occasionally rotating in with the starters. He had a rough practice on Tuesday dropping two easy passes.

Mims is in a bit of a unique situation. The Jets want to run a carbon copy of Kyle Shanahan’s offense, which requires route-running specialists at receiver who can create yards after the catch. That’s why they prioritized drafting Moore, and signing Cole and Davis. Mims isn’t really that kind of a player. He might never be a route technician. Scouts always viewed him as more of a vertical, linear player.

That doesn’t mean he can’t develop, but it wasn’t his strength at Baylor. It’s worth monitoring Mims’ usage come camp and the preseason — especially because Cole looks really, really good so far.

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Too much of a good thing

Aside from Moore, receiver Braxton Berrios is catching everything thrown his way. He looks really good and is developing chemistry with Wilson as his safety blanket. If nothing else is there, the rookie looks for Berrios. It will be interesting to see what the Jets do with Berrios because he’s strictly a slot receiver. The Jets have two other slot receivers in front of him with Crowder and Moore.

Quick hits and tidbits

  • A nice little bounce-back practice for Vyncint Smith. He nearly had a long touchdown, too, but was interfered with by safety Lamarcus Joyner. It was an obvious pass-interference call. Joyner basically hugged him to prevent him from getting to the ball.
  • Another receiver who had a nice day: D.J. Montgomery. He flashed more than a few times.
  • With Cashman out, rookie Hamsah Nasirildeen is getting the first crack at linebacker with Jarrad Davis and C.J. Mosley.
  • Tight end Ryan Griffin made another impressive grab. He finally looks healthy after that ugly leg injury in 2019.
  • Running back Ty Johnson had a nice practice. It sure looks like the Jets will use a full rotation this year.

7-on-7 play-by-play
Starter reps for the three periods

  • (1) Zach Wilson pass complete to Braxton Berrios
  • (1) Zach Wilson pass incomplete (nearly intercepted by Jarrad Davis) over middle
  • (1) Zach Wilson pass complete to Vyncint Smith
  • (1) Zach Wilson incomplete pass to Ryan Griffin
  • (1) Zach Wilson pass complete to Manasseh Bailey
  • (2) Zach Wilson pass incomplete to LaMical Perine
  • (2) Zach Wilson pass dropped by Tyler Kroft
  • (2) Zach Wilson pass complete to Ryan Griffin
  • (2) Zach Wilson pass complete to Braxton Berrios
  • (2) Zach Wilson pass complete to Denzel Mims
  • (2) Zach Wilson pass dropped by Denzel Mims
  • (3) Zach Wilson pass dropped by Tyler Kroft (red zone)
  • (3) Zach Wilson pass dropped by Tyler Kroft (red zone)
  • (3) Zach Wilson touchdown pass to Elijah Moore (red zone)
  • (3) Zach Wilson touchdown run (red zone)
  • (3) Zach Wilson touchdown pass to Daniel Brown (red zone)

11-on-11 play-by-play
Starter reps for the two periods

  • (1) Zach Wilson pass complete to Elijah Moore deep down right sideline
  • (1) Zach Wilson pass complete to Braxton Berrios on skinny post
  • (1) Zach Wilson pass complete to Tevin Coleman in flat
  • (1) Zach Wilson pass complete over middle to Braxton Berrios
  • (1) Zach Wilson pass incomplete for Denzel Mims
  • (1) Zach Wilson pass incomplete to Braxton Berrios (throwaway)
  • (1) Zach Wilson pass complete on left sideline to Keelan Cole
  • (2) Ty Johnson run up the middle
  • (2) Zach Wilson short pass complete to Trevon Wesco
  • (2) Zach Wilson pass complete to Braxton Berrios for first down
  • (2) LaMical Perine run up the middle
  • (2) Zach Wilson pass complete over middle to Braxton Berrios
  • (2) Zach Wilson deep pass incomplete to Keelan Cole
  • (2) Zach Wilson pass complete outside to Braxton Berrios

(Photo: Kathy Willens / Associated Press)

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Connor Hughes

Connor Hughes is a staff writer for The Athletic covering the New York Jets. He began covering the team in 2014, working mostly for The Star-Ledger and NJ.com before joining The Athletic in 2018. Hughes is a New Jersey native and alumnus of Monmouth University. Follow Connor on Twitter @connor_j_hughes