The 2024 preseason is a wrap, and the regular season is right around the corner. The expectations for the Jets this season are higher than they have been in a very long time. Well, about a year. Entering the 2023 season with a Hall of Fame quarterback had everyone excited. That exuberance lasted four plays before Aaron Rodgers was injured for the remainder of the season. Rodgers is back and ready to go for 2024. He leads what should be a very competitive team this year.

Head coach Robert Saleh and the Jets kick off the 2024 season on Monday night, September 9, in San Francisco against the 49ers. The negative, it’s on the road against a Super Bowl-caliber opponent. The positive, it’s on the road so the Jets don’t have to worry about the turf monster attacking their quarterback’s Achilles again.

Looking at the offense, it’s just about all up to Rodgers. How he fares this year determines how the offense goes. Nathaniel Hackett is still offensive coordinator and has shown in the past that he works well (or stays out of the way of) Rodgers. The Jets also have a much stronger offensive line (though it is very aged and injury-prone). The backs and receivers are stacked with All-Pro potential talent. Health is the main area of concern for the offense.

• Quarterback – As mentioned above, Aaron Rodgers will the barometer for the team this year. He is well-liked by the coaches and his teammates. He has embraced the move to New York, and has made it known that he’s aware of how long the fans have been waiting for a winner. He did not play in any of the preseason games but looked great in practices, including joint practices against other teams. In 2024, the Jets replaced Zach Wilson with Tyrod Taylor as the primary backup. That is a major upgrade from a talent and locker room perspective. It’s also the first time in Rodgers’ storied career that he has had a veteran backup to work with. The Jets also have fifth round pick Jordan Travis but he is not expected to play in 2024 due to his rehab from a leg injury that ended his senior season at Florida State. With Rodgers missing all of last season, and Taylor’s injury history, keeping the QB’s healthy will be of paramount importance.

• Running Back – A group that received some focus in the 2024 draft (as it always does with GM Joe Douglas), the Jets running back room became the youngest in the NFL. Breece Hall continues to be the leader of the group. A home run threat every time he touches the ball, Hall missed a majority of his rookie season in 2022 but played all 17 in 2023. After coming within six yards of a 1,000 yard season last year, he’ll be motivated to hit that milestone in 2024. Backing him up are impressive rookies Braelon Allen out of Wisconsin and Isaiah Davis out of South Dakota State. Allen, the youngest player in the NFL, is a bruiser that will take some of the pressure off Hall. Davis carried a heavy workload in college and has a promising future. One of the surprises of the final 53-man roster was that Izzy Abanikanda made the squad as the fourth running back. A 2023 draft pick out of Pitt, Abanikanda played well in his preseason audition.

• Wide Receiver – Another potential strength of this year’s team, Garrett Wilson continues to impress and develop into not only an All-Pro caliber wide receiver, but also a team leader. After 95 catches last season for 1,042 yards while playing with suspect quarterbacks, he is poised for an even better statistical year. Mike Williams joined the team this offseason, and despite not playing in any preseason games, the veteran has recently started practicing. His deep play ability and veteran presence will be a key enabler for both Rodgers and Wilson. Also holding a prominent role in the offense should be Xavier Gipson, who will also contribute in the return game. Allen Lazard is back for his second season in New York, after joining Rodgers last offseason. He has looked much better in training camp after a disappointing 2023. Rookie Malachi Corley, the “YAC King” in college, adds an additional dimension to the offense.

• Tight End – This position group is headlined by veteran Tyler Conklin, who achieved career highs in 2023 with 61 catches for 621 yards. Joining Conklin is Jeremy Ruckert, entering his third season. Brenden Bates was a pickup late in camp after being cut by the Bears.
• Offensive Line – The line enters the season as a massive upgrade from last year, but carries significant injury risk. The headlining free agency addition this past offseason was Hall of Fame-caliber left tackle Tyron Smith, who was a second team All-Pro in 2023. A back injury limited his playing time in 2023. Also new to the team this year is John Simpson at left guard and Morgan Moses at right tackle, both from Baltimore. Moses is familiar with the Jets, playing for them in 2021. Center Joe Tippman enters his second year after an All-Rookie campaign in 2023. Alijah Vera-Tucker starts at right guard after his previous two seasons were ended early with injuries in Denver. Recognizing the injury concerns, Douglas drafted Olu Fashanu out of Penn State at #11 overall in 2024 draft. He will step in if there are any injuries, and his impressed in camp.