• PFF's Brad Spielberger attends Wednesday's practice: The New York Jets held their final training camp practice open to the public before their crosstown showdown with the New York Giants in preseason Week 3.
• Aaron Rodgers looks ready for Jets debut: Rodgers is set to start the team's final preseason game and made some stellar throws in Wednesday's practice.
• Duane Brown's return looms: The Jets activated the veteran tackle off the PUP list.
Estimated Reading Time: 3 minutes
The New York Jets held their final training camp practice open to the public Wednesday and provided fans with a few highlights before their crosstown showdown with the New York Giants in preseason Week 3. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers will start the game, logging his first preseason action in years, and he looked sharp in practice, evading pressure and finding open receivers.
The biggest news of the day came shortly before practice, with veteran tackle Duane Brown taken off the PUP list to begin his ramp-up period heading into the season. Brown didn’t participate in any team activities Wednesday but was suited up on a side field staying loose. His absence was notable at times, with edge defenders Bryce Huff and Jermaine Johnson routinely finding their way into the backfield during team drills, but Rodgers was able to escape the pocket and make a few nice throws.
Before dropping back, Rodgers was consistently making checks at the line of scrimmage, flashing at least a half-dozen hand signals to his receivers before snapping the ball. One of the biggest plays of the day came after what appeared to be a protection check from Rodgers, with a play-action handoff where the running back then made a block to buy him time. Rodgers rolled to his right and found Garrett Wilson with probably eight feet of separation up the right seam on a crosser.
Rodgers rolled to his right a bunch and looked good making throws on the move. The biggest roar from the stands came on a touchdown pass to Allen Lazard in the front right corner of the end zone. Lazard hauled in a 30-35-yard pass through contact with a penalty flag thrown on the coverage.
AARON RODGERS 🤯🤯🤯
(🎥 @TalkJetsRadio)
pic.twitter.com/3UWyOidjJV— PFF (@PFF) August 23, 2023
Zach Wilson had some positives and negatives throughout the day but appeared comfortable and confident overall. One of Wilson’s best plays of the day was a back-shoulder ball to wide receiver Alex Erickson. It was good to see Wilson throw to a spot well before his receiver turned his head around.
On the negative side, linebacker Quincy Williams had a near interception off Zach Wilson a few plays later. Wilson stepped up in the pocket and shuffled to his left, then threw a ball pretty late in the down for what would have been a pick-six.
All in all, the day should build optimism for the team heading into the regular season, with the return of Duane Brown a huge step in the right direction.
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