Three takeaways from the Jets' preseason finale against the Super Bowl champion Eagles
Jets backup quarterback Adrian Martinez running with the ball during a preseason game against the Eagles on Friday night at MetLife Stadium. Credit: Errol Anderson
The Jets concluded their preseason with a 19-17 loss to the Eagles on Friday night at MetLife Stadium. While hardly any of the starters participated, there were several takeaways from the exhibition that could impact the upcoming regular season. Here are three:
1. Just who will be the backup quarterback?
The only thing as troubling as the Jets’ starting quarterback production this preseason has been their backup quarterback production.
Although Justin Fields has struggled to find his groove as a passer this month (4-for-9 for 46 yards in his two game appearances, with only one completion to a wide receiver), his young understudies hardly inspired more confidence from their showcases on Friday night. Brady Cook got the start and was 13-for-19 for 99 yards with an interception in the first half (although he did drive the Jets into position for a field goal as time expired in the second quarter). Adrian Martinez, who also served as the lone game captain, was moderately more effective and led a second-half comeback attempt. He finished 7-for-14 for 86 yards with another 13 rushing yards plus a two-point conversion run.
The Jets do have 15-year veteran Tyrod Taylor as their primary backup, but he has missed the last few weeks after having his knee scoped. Taylor was in attendance on Friday night, so he might be ready to fulfill his duties when the regular season rolls around
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Still, it would behoove the Jets to have more capable options behind Fields, particularly if they intend to have him run with the ball as often as has been indicated by their preseason tendencies. Was there no lesson learned from the 2023 season? Look for them to be active in filling that position via trade before final cuts, or on the waiver wire, next week.
A roster casualty, as Tommy DeVito appears to be for the Giants, would be a better option for the Jets than either Cook or Martinez . . . and maybe even better than Taylor, depending on how quickly he heals up. DeVito threw three touchdown passes in the second half of the Giants’ preseason finale at MetLife Stadium on Thursday night. The Jets’ three quarterbacks totaled two in their three games this summer.
2. Membou looks jumpy in final tune-up
There was one projected starter on the field for the Jets in this game — rookie right tackle Armand Membou — and he certainly drew plenty of attention to himself. Not in a good way, either.
The first-round pick from Missouri was flagged for two penalties. The first was a hold on the first play of the second series that negated a 7-yard run by Kene Nwangwu. The second was a false start when the Jets were lined up on a fourth-and-1 near midfield. That penalty was on the entire right side of the line, but Membou certainly was included and wound up being called for it. That infraction pushed the Jets back to fourth-and-6, so they punted.
The jump was the final snap Membou played, as he was replaced by Carter Warren after that. It was a far from inspiring end to his debut preseason — and the next time Membou is on the field, he’ll be facing T.J. Watt and the rest of the Steelers’ defense in the Sept. 7 opener.
3. Jets finding a little Moore in the secondary
One draft pick who did stand out — and has for much of the summer — was safety Malachi Moore. The fourth-rounder had an interception in the first quarter and, while it was on a pretty bad throw from Eagles quarterback Kyle McCord, Moore did a very nice job reacting to the ball in the air, tracking it and making the over-the-shoulder pick. He also led the team with six tackles.
Moore doesn’t have a defined starting role in the Jets’ defense but figures to evolve into a contributor for them this season. Where isn’t clear just yet.
“We’re trying to throw as much as we can at him and see what sticks with Malachi,” defensive backs coach Chris Harris said this past week. “He has the flexibility to play nickel, flexibility to play safety [and can] function at both at a pretty good level.
“He’s still a work in progress,” Harris said, “but I am excited about where he’s at right now.”
Tom Rock began covering sports for Newsday in 1996 and became its NFL columnist in 2022. He previously was Newsday's Giants beat writer beginning in 2008.
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