Jets close out preseason against eagles, tracking NFL cuts

The New York Jets travel across the turnpike tonight to take on the Philadelphia Eagles.

The fourth and final game of the 2014 preseason takes place tonight for all 32 teams in the league. The Jets and Eagles will kickoff at 7:00pm ET. The affair will be televised on CBS2 in the New York area; ABC6 for fans closer to Philly. As always, ESPN NY 98.7 will carry the radio broadcast. For streaming purposes, fans can take advantage of NFL.com’s Preseason Live at a discounted rate of $14.99.

What’s left to learn?

Will the Jets carry more than three running backs? The top trio of backs should be shoe-ins to make the 53-man roster — Chris Ivory, Chris Johnson, and Bilal Powell — but there’s a pair of backs that could sneak in. Daryl Richardson was brought in via a waiver claim (from St. Louis), and has looked solid in playing time. Alex Green has been with the Jets since last season and has also performed well in the offseason, after initially thinking Richardson’s claim to be his pink slip. What’s most interesting here is the way the depth chart is set-up before tonight’s game. (Screen Caps: NYJets.com)

Notice here that Ivory, Johnson, and Powell are all listed as first-stringers and Green/Richardson are listed as ‘Others.’ Is this an appreciation of the top backs’ production, an ominous message for the bottom two backs, or both?

If the Jets planned to enter the season with just two quarterbacks, Matt Simms has probably changed those plans. Simms has showed consistent improvement since first joining the squad in 2012, and has had QB Coach David Lee raving about his offseason performance. On the flip side, draftee Tajh Boyd has looked over-matched in the bright lights and will hope to use tonight’s opportunity (if available) to stake claim of one of the practice squad spots — which is bolstered from eight to ten, starting this year.

This could be the last time we see WR Stephen Hill, who the Jets reportedly tried to trade this offseason. Without any bidders or signs of improvement from the former second-rounder, Hill could be given his walking papers very soon.

On defense, all eyes will be on the cornerback position, given its absence of depth due to injury and lack of experience, and Dimitri Patterson’s surprise absence versus the Giants. Fourth-year player Ellis Lankster has a chance to thrust himself into a starting role with a strong showing against Matt Barkley and the Eagles offense. (Note: Mark Sanchez will not play tonight.)

Linebacker is a position with a stronger, but still intriguing battle. Incumbents David Harris, Demario Davis, Calvin Pace, and Quinton Coples aren’t going anywhere, but the backups behind them could have a different look this season.

Veteran Jason Babin has looked very strong in his time in green, and will possibly be used beyond the ‘situation pass-rusher’ role that perhaps the Jets first imagined. A.J. Edds has been one of the better tacklers of the preseason. Nick Bellore is outplaying his special-teams-only role of old. Even Garrett McIntyre is finding his way into opposing teams’ backfields. There is a lot to like about the linebacking competition right now.

Monitoring the Cuts

The Jets will attempt to skim (just) the fat off their roster, but other teams’ cuts may provide opportunity for Gang Green, who very well could be active with waiver claims.

Former Bills wide receiver, Stevie Johnson, is going to have a tough go to stick with a crowded receiver group in San Francisco. Reports are that Johnson and QB Colin Kaepernick are still not ‘clicking,‘ in terms of timing. With Johnson now being projected as a fourth wide receiver, he could soon be on the waiver wire. The New York Jets would have to be interested an upgraded complement to Decker, but they’d have to put up with Johnson’s unique behavior to benefit.

Cornerback Mike Harris was recently released by the Jaguars and I believe he’d be a good player to bring into the building and develop.

We’ll update you on all the biggest cuts and specifically those that could be a good fit for the Jets, as they come in later today and beyond.

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