The fourth series of five parts – the trio of Jets of note.
The position of the battle has always been the focus of the training camp.
Beginners and new acquisitions struggle for work with relics. In some positions, competition can be fierce in training and preseason. This year, the preseason match seems to be in danger so practice will be increasingly important.
There are several camp battles that are not just for starting points, but for listing places. The Jets have a number of players who have played big roles in recent years now only fighting for a place on the team, including those that have been around longer than other Jets players.
Here are three Jets who are struggling to keep their jobs:
Brian Winters, guard
Winters stands as the longest tenured jet. He has been with the team since 2013 when GM at the time, John Idzik, took him in the third round. He has survived through three GMs and three head coaches. The question now is: Can he until September?
Brian Winters, Avery Williamson and Sam FickenBill Kostroun (2); Getty Images
Jet signs Greg Van Roten at a free agent to compete with Winters for the right guard spot. They could save $ 7 million by cutting Winters, so it’s surprising that he even made it this far. GM Joe Douglas is a fan of Winters. The veteran keeper impressed his new boss last season by playing through a serious shoulder injury for half the season. Winters were as strong as they came and he would not leave quietly. Van Roten must defeat him.
One of the biggest problems last season was the Jets’ injury in a deep linebacker. It all started when Williamson went down during the preseason match with an ACL that was torn and lost for this season.
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Williamson is expected to be healthy for the training camp, but he will have competition for his place. The silver lining for the Jets with all the injuries inside the back midfielder is a few players playing a time they normally don’t have. Now, Neville Hewitt, Blake Cashman and James Burgess will fight to play with Patrick Onwuasor, signed by the Jets as a free agent.
Linebackers inside may be the team’s deepest position. Williamson shows what he can do in 2018, his first season with the Jets. He is a high-impact player for the Todd Bowles defense. He led the team with 120 tackles and had three sacks, interception, two forced failures and failed recovery.
Williamson has a salary limit of $ 8.5 million, so the Jets can save money by choosing cheaper options in that position. He is a talented player and popular in the dressing room. The Jets must consider this decision carefully.
Sam Ficken, kicker
The Jets went through three kicks before reaching Ficken on Sunday 2 this season. After years of having Nick Folk as their kicker, the Jets have cut various men in recent years.
Ficken kicks politely but not very consistently. He made 19 of 27 field goals, 3 of 6 from outside the 50 yard line and missed three additional points.
The Jets signed former Cowboys kicker Brett Maher only after last season ended to compete with Ficken at the camp for a starting place. Special team coordinator Brant Boyer recently said it would be an open competition. The Jets recruited Braden Mann in the sixth round of the year. Mann is expected to not only handle the task of cutting but also kickoff. So, Ficken and Maher will only worry about placekicking. This will be a battle to watch in the camp.
