Week One is finally here, and the New York Jets have been waiting for far too long to take the field again. Looking forward to leaving a disappointing 2023, hope abounds for the Jets. It is not a familiar position for the team, being picked by some to be the victors of Super Bowl LVIII.
The Jets hold the unenviable position of having the longest playoff drought in the NFL, currently at unlucky 13. Back in that 2010 season, Mark Sanchez took the Jets to their second straight AFC title game. That is equal to the franchise record as well. Fast forward through the Butt Fumble, the Todd Bowles era, and the Adam Gase era, and here we are.
Unfortunately for the Jets and their fans, the team will be waiting until the last of the Week One games, facing off against the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, CA.
The 49ers have been a dynamic team leading up to the 2024 regular season. Ricky Pearsall, the team’s first round pick out of the University of Florida, was recently shot in San Francisco. Thankfully, he is doing much better and recovering well. San Francisco did have some other injury/contract news transpire, too. Star left tackle Trent Williams resigned with the Niners just this week, as did wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. While head coach Kyle Shanahan would not commit to either of them playing against the Jets, they have been practicing with the team this week and it would be a surprise if they did not play. Star running back Christian McCaffrey was limited in Thursday’s practice, with a lower leg injury.
For the Jets, all systems are a go for the start of the season. At Thursday’s practice, backup offensive lineman Wes Schweitzer was the only injury-related non-participant. The interest here is the importance of the backup offensive lineman. While the starting line is experienced and very good, there are injury concerns at about every spot on the line. Their ability to stay on the field will be key to the team’s success. Haason Reddick continues his holdout and will not likely participate in the Week One game, despite head coach Robert Saleh not yet ruling him out.
Key Jets to Watch in Week One:
- Michael Carter II
A feel-good and culture building signing, Carter just signed an extension with the Jets. One of the best slot corners in the game, Carter signed a three-year, $30.75 million extension. The deal makes Carter the highest paid slot corner in the game. He is also the first draft pick by GM Joe Douglas to sign a multi-year extension with the Jets.
Carter is a great fit in the locker room, and fits well with the culture that Saleh and defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich are looking to build on that side of the ball. In addition to the contract, a reason to watch Carter in this game is his recovery from an injured ankle in late July. He has been cleared to play in Week One after returning to practice for about a week. Teaming with starting corners Sauce Gardner and DJ Reed, Carter is one to watch in Week One.
2. Mike Williams
Wiliams was one of the key additions for the Jets in the offseason. He is an explosive wide receiver that brings big-play potential to the offense. An ACL injury in 2023, when he was with the Chargers, limited him to only 19 catches for 249 yards and one touchdown. His continued rehab from the injury kept him limited for most of training camp. Williams will play in Week One, but will be limited.
Saleh and the Jets have experience with this type of injury and recovery. Last season, star running back Breece Hall was returning from an ACL injury and was limited early in the season. This strategy allowed him to build back up to a full load, giving his ACL (and confidence) the time it needed to get back to full health. The Jets will follow the same approach with Williams. He will be on a snap count to start the season. He is one to watch in Week One, to see if there is any hesitation as he returns to the field for the first time since last September.
3. Aaron Rodgers
Speaking of returning from injuries, there is the Jets quarterback situation that has been discussed a time or two over the past year. Rodgers will look to make the wait worth it for the Jets as he returns from last season’s Week One Achilles injury. A key milestone for the Jets in this game will be their fifth offensive play. If Rodgers is out there for that play, he will have made it longer than he did in 2023.
Another layer of intrigue comes in the location and opponent of this game. Rodgers, a native of California, was notably passed on by the 49ers in the 2005 NFL Draft. When asked about it leading up to the game, he jokingly referenced that everyone is different now and he outlasted a lot of the decision makers from the 49ers at that time.
Needless to say, the Jets are relying on Rodgers being Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers again this season. If he is, the expectations are as high as they ever have been for a historically moribund franchise. With his longtime offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, Rodgers will have a great stable of weapons at his disposal, including Hall, Williams, and Garrett Wilson. He continues to understand the task at hand in elevating the Jets, and is the key Jet to watch in Week One.
NFL football is back, and the Jets are cleared for takeoff in 2024.
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