Looking back on hopes for the Jets prior to the preseason opener

Before yesterday’s game I listed four things I was hoping to see from the preseason opener against the Giants. Let’s take a look back to see how things went.

No major injuries

The Jets did not come out of this game unscathed. Brian Winters suffered a shoulder injury. We still await word on how severe the injury is.

Winters wouldn’t be as big of a loss as somebody like Sam Darnold, Jamal Adams, or Leonard Williams. He still, however, is a starting guard on a team that does not have great offensive line depth on paper.

This was not really what anybody was hoping to see.

Cornerback competency

When I discussed this issue my focus was on the play of starters Trumaine Johnson and Darryl Roberts. I think this would have to be graded as an incomplete. Johnson and Roberts both held up fine, but their playing time was very limited. It is difficult to give them much of a grade for this game.

If we expand the grading to include young backups like Derrick Jones, Kyron Brown, and Parry Nickerson, it would not look so great.

A perfect night for Chandler Catanzaro

I think it’s safe to say this one didn’t pan out. I was hoping Catanzaro would have a quality night to alleviate concerns about his rocky training camp. Instead he missed two extra points. Right now it feels like the Jets at the very least need to bring a second kicker into camp for insurance in case Catanzaro can’t straighten things out in the next few weeks.

A tight end not named Herndon standing out

The Jets will be without their starting tight end for the first month of the regular season. The team needs somebody to step up. Herndon himself recorded a 32 yard reception on the first drive as the Giants busted a coverage on him. The other Jets tight ends combined for a single reception and 2 yards. The search for depth continues.

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At least Sam Darnold played well in this game.