Greg Salas well-received after strong game for Jets

When the lights come on, it's showtime.

And although Saturday's Green and White scrimmage wasn't anything close to regular-season action, Greg Salas was determined to catch his coaches' attention.

The fourth-year receiver seemed to be everywhere on the field, catching five passes for 54 yards in a touchdown-less outing by the Jets' offense.

"Greg Salas had a great night tonight. I threw one ball across the middle and I could not believe he caught it," said Michael Vick, referring to the 14-yard reception Salas made in midair. "I probably put everything I had into it.

"He has great hands and he's one guy that has been a good friend of mine since my days in Philadelphia. It's great to see young guys continue to prosper in this league. I'm watching these guys grow and develop, and they're going to be great football players in this league for a long time."

Quality reps are hard to come by with 12 receivers on the roster. And after stops in St. Louis, Philly and New England before joining the Jets, Salas understands time is of the essence.

"I've got to earn a spot," he said. "Nothing's going to be given to anybody here and you've got to earn it. These coaches are going to play the best players, so I'm just here trying to make a case for myself and I think I'm trying to do a pretty good job of that."

Some guys -- such as Eric Decker, Jeremy Kerley and David Nelson -- already have roster spots locked up, but Salas said it's a pretty wide-open competition for everyone else.

"The coaches are giving everybody a pretty good shot behind them," he said.

And the former Hawaii receiver took a step in the right direction on Saturday, showcasing his athleticism and pass-catching ability.

"All Salas does is catch the football -- except that one drop," coach Rex Ryan said with a smile, poking fun at a pair of bad drops by Salas toward the end of the scrimmage.

"It's funny, but that's what he does. He's not a blazer by any means, but he certainly gets the football. He gets open and he competes as a blocker, so those are all encouraging things."

Asked about his performance, Salas said: "It felt great to get out here and make a couple plays. You know, just making an impression on the coaches, I guess.

"I'm pretty happy with the opportunities I've gotten [during training camp]. I feel like I've made the most of them. This is what I do in practice. I make catches, I make plays in practice and I was glad I could come out here and do the same in this little scrimmage we had."

Notes & quotes: A source confirmed that linebacker Jermaine Cunningham tore his Achilles tendon in the scrimmage. He had to be helped off the field in the first half.