The Jets are getting their bye week.
They might use a bye month.
The 2024 Jets will go down as probably the most disappointing within the franchise’s historical past, and this can be a franchise that has seen loads of distress.
The crew started the yr with Tremendous Bowl aspirations and playoff expectations, armed with a wholesome Aaron Rodgers at quarterback and stars everywhere in the roster.
They arrive on the bye 3-8, and with an interim head coach and normal supervisor.
It’s laborious to consider.
The Jets have six video games remaining, and everybody’s ideas from possession to the followers already has turned to 2025.
They are going to want a brand new GM, coach and possibly a quarterback.
How did they get right here?
That’s the query everybody related to the crew is asking.
Nobody noticed a season like this coming throughout coaching camp.
The optimistic vibes have been excessive with Rodgers coming back from the harm that price him final season.
The protection returned most of its starters from a yr in the past, once they have been within the high 5.
The offense had rising stars in Garrett Wilson and Breece Corridor.
The Jets started the season 2-1 and had a powerful win in Week 3 in opposition to the Patriots earlier than the underside fell out.
Again-to-back losses to the Broncos and Vikings led to proprietor Woody Johnson firing coach Robert Saleh.
That transfer didn’t work.
The Jets misplaced their subsequent three video games after interim coach Jeff Ulbrich took over.
They continued to make strikes to attempt to stem the tide, buying and selling for star receiver and Rodgers’ pal Davante Adams and convincing move rusher Haason Reddick to finish his holdout.
After a quick second of hope in opposition to the Texans, the Jets have misplaced their previous two video games, together with a heartbreaking 28-27 loss to the Colts final week.
That loss ended any faint playoff hopes the crew nonetheless had, and Johnson fired normal supervisor Joe Douglas on Tuesday to start the seek for the crew’s new management.
It’s unattainable to know what to anticipate over these last six video games.
Are the Jets checked out?
Do they now play higher freed of any expectations?
With the best way this season has gone, nothing will probably be a shock.
Most Precious Participant
Not a lot has gone proper, however third-year vast receiver Garrett Wilson has performed properly.
Wilson is third within the NFL with 69 receptions.
He has 722 receiving yards and 5 landing catches.
Wilson received off to a gradual begin and regarded like he was not on the identical web page with Rodgers, however the two have proven higher chemistry during the last seven weeks.
Wilson has had three 100-yard video games this yr and the arrival of Davante Adams has taken a few of the defensive consideration off him and opened issues up.
The spotlight of Wilson’s season got here within the second half in opposition to the Texans when he had two one-handed landing grabs, one in the long run zone that turned a viral sensation.
Wilson goes to be eligible for a contract extension after this season, and the brand new administration goes to should make an enormous determination on whether or not to lock Wilson up now.
Least Precious Participant
The Jets traded for edge rusher Haason Reddick in March, hoping he would substitute the manufacturing they have been dropping with Bryce Huff’s departure in free company.
As a substitute, Reddick determined to carry out for a brand new contract.
Reddick missed all the spring, coaching camp and the primary seven video games.
Since he returned final month, he has had little or no affect.
After 4 straight seasons of double-digit sacks, Reddick has a half-sack in 4 video games for the Jets.
The Jets’ move rush was truly higher earlier than Reddick received to the crew.
He’s a free agent after this season, and he’s going to have to choose up his manufacturing if he hopes to get a payday from somebody.
Largest Shock
One of many assumptions in regards to the Jets was that their protection was going to be among the many greatest within the NFL.
But it surely has confirmed to have many flaws and has crumbled in large spots this yr.
A number of the statistics nonetheless look good.
The Jets are No. 7 in complete protection and twelfth in factors allowed.
However anybody who has watched this protection is aware of it has not lived as much as its preseason billing.
It began in Week 1, once they allowed 180 dashing yards to the 49ers, who didn’t even have Christian McCaffrey.
The run protection stays a difficulty.
They’ve given up at the very least 100 yards dashing in eight of their 11 video games.
Then, there may be their lack of ability to get interceptions.
The Jets have simply two interceptions this season, and each got here from Brandin Echols, who just isn’t even an everyday starter.
The Jets are getting a nasty season from one in all their high gamers, cornerback Sauce Gardner.
On high of that, the protection crumbled in New England and final week in opposition to the Colts within the last minutes when the crew wanted a cease.
Largest Disappointment
There are many candidates for this title, however it’s important to begin with the largest star on the crew, and that’s Aaron Rodgers.
The expectation when the Jets traded for Rodgers in April 2023 was that he was the lacking piece to push this crew to the playoffs at the very least.
His harm price him final season, however hope returned along with his comeback this yr.
Rodgers has not been horrible, however he additionally has not elevated this crew like everybody anticipated.
He appears skittish within the pocket, afraid to get hit and unable to maneuver.
He hardly ever pushes the ball down the sector.
The passing offense appears to encompass throwing brief to playmakers and hoping they break off a long term.
Rodgers’ stats should not unhealthy.
He has 2,442 passing yards, 17 touchdowns and 7 interceptions.
He might find yourself with one of many higher statistical seasons in Jets quarterbacking historical past if he could make it by means of the ultimate six video games.
Anybody who has watched the video games, although, is aware of Rodgers has been a serious disappointment.
Greatest Second
The Jets had a horrible first half in opposition to the Texans on “Thursday Evening Soccer,” however then discovered an offensive rhythm within the second half.
The spotlight of the sport and the season got here early within the fourth quarter when Rodgers threw a ball up into the tip zone and Wilson made an acrobatic, one-handed seize and someway got here down inbounds with the ball.
The landing gave them a 14-10 lead on the best way to a 21-13 victory.
The catch caught hearth on social media and was replayed for days.
It felt prefer it may very well be the spark for a turnaround, however that thought disappeared with a loss in Arizona the next week.
Wilson’s catch introduced again reminiscences of Odell Beckham Jr.’s one-handed catch for the Giants 10 years in the past.
Will probably be attention-grabbing to see if the catch is remembered or it will get misplaced within the wreckage of this dismal season.
Worst Second
The cracks on this season have been already displaying at 2-3, however the Jets have been nonetheless about to play the Payments at residence for a share of first place within the AFC East when proprietor Woody Johnson determined to fireside coach Robert Saleh.
Johnson had grown uninterested in Saleh, who was employed by his brother Christopher when he was nonetheless the U.S. ambassador to the UK, and determined the crew wanted a change.
Johnson felt the crew would flip round underneath interim coach Jeff Ulbrich, however the reverse occurred.
Observe the most recent on the New York Jets firing head coach Robert Saleh:
The crew is 1-5 since altering coaches.
Saleh was 20-36 as head coach, however the locker room didn’t react properly to his firing.
Gamers favored Saleh, and it felt like a state of shock descended upon the crew for a couple of weeks.
The protection, of which Saleh was the architect, has not been the identical since his firing.
It was the primary time Johnson fired a coach in the course of the season in his 25 years as proprietor.
Largest Head-Scratcher
What occurred to kicker Greg Zuerlein?
Because the losses have mounted and other people have misplaced their jobs, that is one query that has been requested many occasions.
Zuerlein had seemingly solved the Jets’ long-term kicking points lately.
He made 35 of 38 area objectives final yr and was rewarded with a two-year, $8.4 million contract extension in March.
However Zuerlein was horrible this yr.
He missed six area objectives, together with a possible game-winner in opposition to the Broncos that started the Jets’ downward spiral.
Who is aware of if issues go in a different way in the event that they win that sport?
He missed large kicks in opposition to the Payments and Patriots, too, earlier than lastly being changed.
The Jets have used three kickers since placing Zuerlein on injured reserve with a mysterious left knee harm.
Upcoming Determination
Effectively, the massive selections will come within the offseason on the way forward for this crew.
In case you are speaking short-term, although, every part facilities round Rodgers.
Will he play out the string?
Will he all of a sudden land on injured reserve?
Rodgers has been coping with hamstring and knee accidents for many of the season, so if the Jets and Rodgers determine it’s not price it to play, they may transfer him to IR and cite these accidents getting worse.
At this level, Rodgers is enjoying for delight and making an attempt to salvage one thing from this depressing season.
Rodgers appears to genuinely take pleasure in being on the crew, nevertheless it has not labored.
If the Jets had a younger quarterback in ready, getting a have a look at him now would make sense.
They don’t have that man, although.
Tyrod Taylor is Rodgers’ backup and Adrian Martinez is the third-string quarterback.
This has been a season from hell for Rodgers and the Jets.
You surprise if he simply needs it to finish.
