Jets rookie Sauce Gardner will start in opener vs. Ravens

Rookie cornerback Sauce Gardner will be starting for the Jets in Week 1.

Coach Robert Saleh announced Sunday that Gardner will start alongside D.J. Reed when the Jets open against the Ravens on Sept. 11. Gardner, the No. 4 overall pick in the draft, beat out Bryce Hall, the Jets’ top cornerback last year.

“He’s going to be our Week 1 starter,” Saleh said. “He’s been fantastic. Bryce Hall has had a really good training camp also. At the same time with the overall body of work since OTAs, it’s clear that the kid’s going to be pretty good.”

Early in camp, Gardner and Hall alternated days with the first team, but it was becoming clear which way the Jets were leaning.

Hall struggled in a preseason game against the Falcons on Monday, allowing a big play and a touchdown. Gardner wasn’t targeted once in the preseason.

Gardner was a lockdown corner at Cincinnati and didn’t allow a touchdown in three seasons. The Jets see him becoming that type of player in the NFL.

Gardner said “it means a lot” that the Jets believe in him. “I just had to come in here and be myself,” he said. “They drafted me for a reason. They drafted me not to be nobody but myself. I appreciate the way they made me work for it instead of just being like, ‘He’s the fourth pick, let’s put him in there.' They made me work for it. They didn’t jeopardize the respect that the DB room has for me.”

Reed did not play Sunday because of knee soreness. Hall sat out because of ankle soreness. Saleh said there was no reason to push it and “they’re both fine.”

Ugly start

Joe Flacco and the first-team offense were on the field together for a preseason game for the first time. They looked as if they could use more work.

All Flacco and the offense could muster in four series was a 49-yard field goal by Greg Zuerlein. They ran 22 plays for 99 yards and turned it over twice. Flacco was 7-for-12 for 76 yards with a pick-6 against mostly Giants backups, Michael Carter fumbled and the Jets had only 23 yards rushing on nine carries behind the starting offensive line playing its first game together.

“I’m not discouraged,” Saleh said. “We have a really good group of guys and there’s no doubt they’ll get to where they need to do. If anything, it’s a good little wake-up call, get yourselves moving.”

Backup quarterback Mike White was 13-for-17 with two touchdown passes. Chris Streveler, who led the Jets to comeback wins in the first two preseason games, engineered a game-winning touchdown drive and hit Calvin Jackson for a 5-yard TD with 22 seconds remaining.

“Streveler, I think he’s probably had one of the greatest preseason in the history of football,” Saleh said.

Ruckert’s day

Lindenhurst’s Jeremy Ruckert caught three passes for 17 yards, all in the fourth quarter. Saleh said Ruckert still is a little behind because of a foot injury that kept him out of OTAs and the start of camp but believes he eventually will break out. “Really love where he’s at,” Saleh said. “I’m very confident that Ruckert is going to be a really good tight end in this league. Very confident. Once he gets caught up, it’ll all come to fruition.”

By Al Iannazzone

al.iannazzone@newsday.comAl_Iannazzone

Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.