New York Jets Stock Report
Looking at players who helped their stock, and players who hurt their stock based on Sunday's game.
🗽 Good morning Jets fans. I’m not sure what it is about the work week after a loss, but it never seems to go as smoothly, and the days always seem to be that much longer. As a Knicks fan, it’s also not helping my sanity that they can’t seem to find their groove either.
Today, we’re going back to our New York Jets stock report. We’re going to take a look at three players who saw their stock rise based on their performance on Sunday, and three players who saw their stock fall. As a little bonus, we’re also going to do a separate rookie stock ranking.
Zach Wilson 📈
It was hard to not be impressed with Wilson yesterday, especially in the first half where he was largely flawless.
At one point I thought he was on for a 250+ yarder and a completion around 70%, but unfortunately, it fizzled out in the second half.
It was good to see Zach play within the offense, he got the ball out on time and to the right read. He moved the chains easily and showed better touch on his passes.
It was really encouraging to see him moving around the pocket as well, he’ll need time to feel comfortable with the knee brace, but he showed no ill effects from his injury.
It wasn’t a perfect showing. The INT was a bad one, he was late, his feet never got set and he rushed the throw because he didn’t throw with anticipation. He also had a couple of moments in the 2nd half where he reverted to his early-season struggles, not getting the ball out on a 3 step drop which resulted in a sack.
Moving in the right direction, and at this point I’ll take it.
Stat line: 23/38, 60.5% completion, 2 TD, 1 INT, 1 Rushing TD
Alex Kessman 📉
Starting his first NFL game in place of Matt Ammendola who the Jets cut because he couldn’t make a kick over 40 yards, Kessman had a nightmare start to his NFL career.
He missed two extra points and wasn’t seen again for the rest of the game. The issue here is that it instantly puts you behind the curve, because he missed two extra points, the Jets were forced to go for 2 on their third touchdown, it failed and the Jets didn’t come close to scoring again all game.
Missing 40+ yard field goals is frustrating, when you’re in the NFL you need to make these more often than not. If you miss the odd one, that happens, even the best miss one from time to time. But to not be able to make 2 extra points?
Both Ammendola and Kessman are rookies, it’s time the Jets got a veteran in to see us through to the end of the season, just to keep the offense in rhythm.
Josh Lambo is available. After starting his career with the Chargers he moved to Jacksonville and became their most accurate kicker ever. Despite starting the season slow this year, he finished his career with the Jaguars successfully kicking 91.6% of his field goals, including 12-15 from 50+ yards. Get him in the phone Joe.
Stats: 0/2 on extra points.
Bryce Hall 📈
The defense as a whole wasn’t good, it’s obvious to anyone who watches football that this unit needs an injection of top-end talent.
Saying that, I thought Bryce Hall had a fantastic game on the backend for the Jets.
DeVonta Smith is having a fine rookie campaign, but he was held to just 2 catches for 15 yards yesterday and Hall was covering him a lot.
Hall’s pass defense on the potential TD to Smith was his 10th of the season, which leads the Jets corners. He’s not perfect, but he is head and shoulders the best cornerback on this roster. He’s an NFL starter and his technique continues to improve every week.
The only real negative on Hall is that he doesn’t look for the INT’s. Flipping the field is a game-changer, and while your first objective is to ensure the pass isn’t completed, I hope that he starts to add some INT’s to his game. That will take him into that upper echelon of NFL receivers.
I’m not going to count the pass interference against him because it was a BS call.
Braden Mann 📉
This wasn’t a good day for the Jets special teams unit. Mann just hasn’t looked the same since returning from injury and if you pair that with Morestead performing well in Atlanta (he averaged 43 yards a punt yesterday and 3 were downed inside the 20), the decision to bring Mann back and cut Morestead isn’t looking great.
I get it, Mann was a draft pick and Morestead is in the twilight of his career, I supported the decision to cut Morestead. Maybe Mann is still dealing with the after-effects of his early-season injury, but he’ll need to improve if he doesn’t want to find himself in an open competition for the Job in the spring.
Stat line: 2 punts, 78 yards, 39 yard average
Elijah Moore 📈
I’m running out of superlatives to describe Moore and just how good he can be. He has absolutely everything you want in a receiver and the signs are starting to show that chemistry is building between him and Zach Wilson.
Moore was targeted 12 times yesterday, and while he only caught 6 of those passes he did have 77 yards and a touchdown, that’s good for 12.8 yards per reception.
He did get free in the end-zone again, but Wilson threw an inaccurate pass. Had he not hit Ryan Griffin on the next play for a TD, we’d probably be talking more about it.
He had one that he got his hands to, and while it was a difficult catch, you imagine he’d expect to come down with it. There was another play where he went up and high-pointed the ball, it was destined to be a TD before Slay got his hand in and jarred it loose. Even though it wasn’t completed, Moore’s route and ability to go up and get the ball was on show, sometimes you just have to credit the defense for doing their job.
Moore now has 5 receiving touchdowns on the season, only two Jets rookies (Keyshawn with 8 and Rob Moore with 6) have more in their first campaign. I’d back Elijah to pass Moore and I wouldn’t bet against him passing Keyshawn either.
Stats: 12 targets, 6 catches, 77 yards, 1 TD, 12.8 yards per reception
CJ Mosley 📉
I’m usually a CJ defender but I thought he had a really poor game yesterday. He may have led the Jets in tackles with 13, but tackles can be a deceptive stat.
There are two plays that really stick in my mind. The first is getting called for encroachment on a key 4th down that extended the Eagles drive. I think Jason Kelce did bait him, but that’s a veteran move by the center, CJ is also a veteran and shouldn’t have fallen for it, that was a real dagger.
The second is the first touchdown to Goedert where he took one step forward biting on the play-action and that ensured he couldn’t get deep enough in his coverage to cover the tight end. The less said about Ashtyn Davis’s tackle the better but that was CJ’s man who got in behind.
The Eagles moved the ball to the tune of 418 yards, with 185 of those coming on the ground, they seemed to be running right up the middle most of the afternoon, if a team is doing that it tends to mean that the middle linebacker isn’t having a great day.
I’ll say it until I’m blue in the face, this team desperately needs linebackers who can cover.
Jets Rookie Power Rankings:
Elijah Moore - WR
It’s hard not to put Moore in the top spot. He’s having one of the best rookie years I can remember from a Jets player full stop.
Michael Carter - RB
It was a shame the injury came when it did, but despite that he’s showcased why he’s our RB going forward.
Alijah Vera-Tucker - LG
I don’t know what PFF will say to this, but AVT is one of the better run blockers, he just needs to continue to improve in pass protection.
Michael Carter II - CB
Give the scouting department a bonus for this one, the Jets continue to get excellent production from Duke product Carter.
Zach Wilson - QB
If Zach can keep climbing here I’ll be happy. He still had a couple of issues but his first half against the Eagles was outstanding.
Brandin Echols - CB
Echols has been up & down this year, but getting any production from a 6th rounder is good. The Jets will look forward to getting him off IR.
Jamien Sherwood - LB
The torn Achilles he suffered in week 7 derailed a season that was starting to pick up steam. It was a big hit to a weak unit.
Isaiah Dunn - CB
Dunn makes a good play and then he has a couple of really poor plays. But the Jets are asking a lot out of a UDFA.
Jonathan Marshall - DT
Marshall was given a chance to play yesterday with Rankins injured, and his only real contribution was a bad penalty.
Jason Pinnock - CB
I had high hopes for Pinnock coming into the season, but he has really struggled. He seems to be close to most positive plays for the other team.
Hamsah Nasrildeen - LB
Hamsah hasn’t played any defensive snaps since week 2, since coming off IR in week 9 he has only played special teams snaps.
Kenny Yeboah - TE
The Jet’s tight end room is one of the worst in the league and Yeboah can’t get a look in. That speaks volumes to me.
Hamilcar Rashed Jr. - DE
Another player who’s been largely invisible.
📰 News & Notes 📝
Corey Davis is set to undergo core muscle surgery tomorrow, meaning he’s done for the year. What a great opportunity for Denzel Mims.
The Jets are bringing in kicker Eddy Piñeiro, signing him to the active roster. Matt Ammendola didn’t work, Alex Kessman was a bit of a disaster, 3rd time is the charm.
Robert Saleh said that there was no update on tackle Becton. Its getting close to the point where you have a decision to make, get him back for a week or two or shut him down for the season. I’m leaning towards the latter.