The Jets are getting their bye week.
They may 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 group started the yr with Tremendous Bowl aspirations and playoff expectations, armed with a wholesome Aaron Rodgers at quarterback and stars all around the roster.
They arrive on the bye 3-8, and with an interim head coach and basic supervisor.
It’s onerous to imagine.
The Jets have six video games remaining, and everybody’s ideas from possession to the followers already has turned to 2025.
They’ll want a brand new GM, coach and doubtless a quarterback.
How did they get right here?
That’s the query everybody related to the group is asking.
Nobody noticed a season like this coming throughout coaching camp.
The constructive vibes had been excessive with Rodgers getting back from the damage that value him final season.
The protection returned most of its starters from a yr in the past, once they had 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 towards 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 cross rusher Haason Reddick to finish his holdout.
After a short second of hope towards 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 group nonetheless had, and Johnson fired basic supervisor Joe Douglas on Tuesday to start the seek for the group’s new management.
It’s unimaginable to know what to anticipate over these remaining six video games.
Are the Jets checked out?
Do they now play higher freed of any expectations?
With the way in which this season has gone, nothing shall be a shock.
Most Worthwhile Participant
Not a lot has gone proper, however third-year broad receiver Garrett Wilson has performed effectively.
Wilson is third within the NFL with 69 receptions.
He has 722 receiving yards and 5 landing catches.
Wilson received off to a sluggish begin and regarded like he was not on the identical web page with Rodgers, however the two have proven higher chemistry over the past seven weeks.
Wilson has had three 100-yard video games this yr and the arrival of Davante Adams has taken a number of the defensive consideration off him and opened issues up.
The spotlight of Wilson’s season got here within the second half towards the Texans when he had two one-handed landing grabs, one ultimately 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 must make a giant determination on whether or not to lock Wilson up now.
Least Worthwhile Participant
The Jets traded for edge rusher Haason Reddick in March, hoping he would substitute the manufacturing they had been shedding with Bryce Huff’s departure in free company.
As a substitute, Reddick determined to carry out for a brand new contract.
Reddick missed the entire spring, coaching camp and the primary seven video games.
Since he returned final month, he has had little or no impression.
After 4 straight seasons of double-digit sacks, Reddick has a half-sack in 4 video games for the Jets.
The Jets’ cross rush was really higher earlier than Reddick received to the group.
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.
Greatest Shock
One of many assumptions concerning 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 massive 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 speeding yards to the 49ers, who didn’t even have Christian McCaffrey.
The run protection stays a difficulty.
They’ve given up at the least 100 yards speeding in eight of their 11 video games.
Then, there may be their incapacity to get interceptions.
The Jets have simply two interceptions this season, and each got here from Brandin Echols, who isn’t even an everyday starter.
The Jets are getting a nasty season from one in every of their high gamers, cornerback Sauce Gardner.
On high of that, the protection crumbled in New England and final week towards the Colts within the remaining minutes when the group wanted a cease.
Greatest Disappointment
There are many candidates for this title, however you must begin with the most important star on the group, 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 group to the playoffs at the least.
His damage value him final season, however hope returned along with his comeback this yr.
Rodgers has not been horrible, however he additionally has not elevated this group like everybody anticipated.
He appears to be like 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 quick to playmakers and hoping they break off a future.
Rodgers’ stats aren’t dangerous.
He has 2,442 passing yards, 17 touchdowns and 7 interceptions.
He could find yourself with one of many higher statistical seasons in Jets quarterbacking historical past if he could make it by 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 towards the Texans on “Thursday Night Football,” 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 top 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 way in which to a 21-13 victory.
The catch caught fireplace 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 fascinating 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 had been already exhibiting at 2-3, however the Jets had been nonetheless about to play the Payments at dwelling for a share of first place within the AFC East when proprietor Woody Johnson determined to fireside coach Robert Saleh.
Johnson had grown bored with Saleh, who was employed by his brother Christopher when he was nonetheless the U.S. ambassador to the UK, and determined the group wanted a change.
Johnson felt the group would flip round underneath interim coach Jeff Ulbrich, however the reverse occurred.
Comply with the newest on the New York Jets firing head coach Robert Saleh:
The group is 1-5 since altering coaches.
Saleh was 20-36 as head coach, however the locker room didn’t react effectively to his firing.
Gamers appreciated Saleh, and it felt like a state of shock descended upon the group for a number 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.
Greatest 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 instances.
Zuerlein had seemingly solved the Jets’ long-term kicking points lately.
He made 35 of 38 discipline 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 discipline objectives, together with a possible game-winner towards the Broncos that started the Jets’ downward spiral.
Who is aware of if issues go in another way in the event that they win that sport?
He missed massive kicks towards 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 damage.
Upcoming Resolution
Nicely, the massive selections will come within the offseason on the way forward for this group.
In case you are speaking short-term, although, all the pieces 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 taking part in for delight and making an attempt to salvage one thing from this depressing season.
Rodgers appears to genuinely take pleasure in being on the group, however it has not labored.
If the Jets had a younger quarterback in ready, getting a take 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 desires it to finish.
