GM Joe Douglas says Jets just need to limit turnovers

Joe Douglas believes the Jets are going to be a tough team to beat this season if they limit their turnovers.

This was the Jets' general manager's response to a question about what he wants to see from Zach Wilson for the remainder of the season. Wilson threw three interceptions in the Jets’ 22-17 loss to the Patriots on Sunday.

“It’s tough because when you lose, the quarterback gets the blame and it’s not always just the quarterback’s fault,” Douglas said on a Zoom call Tuesday. “When you see how we played the first eight games of the season, we’re going to be tough to beat when we take care of the ball.

“When you take care of the ball, and with our defense and special teams, we're gonna be a tough team to beat. Just focus on the turnover battle, focus on eliminating self-inflicted wounds. And that's not just for Zach, that's the entire team."

Douglas, like Robert Saleh did on Monday, expressed confidence in Wilson.

“We love Zach,” Douglas said. “We love his approach every week, love how he competes. He’s our quarterback.”

The Jets are in a different position than every other season Douglas has been in charge. They’re 5-3 and in a playoff race. Douglas said the goal was to be playing meaningful games in December. It appears the Jets will be.

“There’s a lot to be excited about moving forward,” Douglas said. “We know we haven’t accomplished the goal we set out to accomplish, but we set ourselves up to have a good opportunity moving forward to have success.”

The NFL trade deadline was Tuesday and the Jets made a minor move. Douglas created room at defensive end by dealing pass rusher Jacob Martin and a 2024 fifth-round pick to Denver for a 2024 fourth-round choice.

This should open more snaps for rookie defensive end Jermaine Johnson, who could return Sunday after missing the past two games with an ankle injury. Martin signed a three-year, $13.5 million deal in the spring.

“It was an opportunity to add some flexibility moving forward with the higher draft pick and get some of these guys a few more reps moving forward,” Douglas said.

Douglas held on to Elijah Moore and Denzel Mims – two receivers who requested trades.

“We love both those guys,” Douglas said.

Mims requested his trade in September while Moore asked out less than two weeks ago over a lack of involvement in the offense. The Jets were adamant that Moore, a second-round pick last year, would not be dealt.

“We had some calls,” Douglas said, “but Elijah was always going to be a New York Jet.”

There was a thought that the Jets could look to acquire some offensive line help. Douglas said he “canvassed the league” for opportunities “at a number of different positions.” He found nothing worth pulling the trigger on and pointed to the returns of tackles George Fant and Max Mitchell after next week’s bye.

Douglas also spoke highly of the Jets rookie class, featuring Sauce Gardner, Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall before he was lost for the season with a torn ACL.

“The exuberance, the energy that these guys bring every week you can feel it,” Douglas said. “It’s palpable.”

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Douglas said Hall and Alijah Vera-Tucker (torn triceps) have yet to have surgery, but the team doctors “are very optimistic: they will both "come back at full strength next year.” … Douglas said tackle Mekhi Becton, who had knee surgery in August, has been rehabbing in the Jets facility and is "really optimistic that he’s going to be full strength for OTAs.”

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.