The Jets lost to the Eagles in their preseason closer this past Thursday, finishing the preseason 2-2. Unfortunate, but with quarterback Mark Sanchez and the first string offense on the bench, the biggest disappointment was that third string quarterback, Greg McElroy, injured his thumb and required surgery. McElroy was in the game for Mark Brunell, whose hand and calf injuries kept him out of all four preseason games. McElroy had a solid preseason, but ended up on the season-ending injured reserve on Sunday.
McElroy’s injury was indicative that the second-string offensive line was weak, with McElroy being sacked twice in the first quarter. McElroy wasn’t injured on a sack, but it’s rather surprising he wasn’t. At the end of the game, the offensive line had allowed 5 sacks and committed 5 penalties. Depth on the O-line is looking like an issue.
With McElroy out and requiring surgery, the Jets were looking thin at quarterback, but they picked up Kevin O’Connell to be their third string guy after he was cut by the Dolphins this week. O’Connell spent 2009 with the Jets but didn’t play, and spent all of last season on injured reserve. Still, O’Connell was here during Rex Ryan’s first season, and knows the Jets’ system, meaning he won’t have to catch up so far and so fast.
Other news:
+ The Jets sent defensive back Dwight Lowery to Jacksonville for a conditional draft pick. The secondary was considered deep enough to let Lowery go. Lowery was drafted in 2008, and performed adequately but didn’t shine with the Jets. This was also the day the Jets finished their roster, cutting a final 26 players.
+The Jets waived linebacker Aaron Maybin. Maybin originally made it through the final round of cuts to make the Jets 53 player roster. The Jets signed Maybin, the 11th pick in the 2008 draft, after he was a bust with the Bills. In two seasons with Buffalo, he recorded no sacks.
+ ESPN has the Jets final roster here (now minus Maybin and plus O'Connell), and analyzes it here.
With the preseason over, and the roster mostly finalized, the season is about to get underway. The Jets spend Week 01 at home, playing host to the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, September 11th, at 8:20 PM.
What do you think, Jets fans? Looking forward to the season? Afraid the team has too many holes? Sound off!
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