3 pleasant surprises standing out at 2022 Jets training camp

[LIJetsFan]

by  Jim Cerny August 4, 2022 at 9:58 AM PT

Two weeks into 2022 New York Jets training camp, several players have stood out on both sides of the ball, some more surprising than others.

Wide receiver Elijah Moore has been electrifying. Defensive linemen Carl Lawson and Quinnen Williams have been monsters. Veteran backup quarterback Joe Flacco is drawing raves. And rookies Sauce Gardner and Garrett Wilson have not only fit right in, they’ve stood out with their solid play.

Some of these standouts are to be expected, others not as much.

That said, let’s take a look at some of the pleasant surprises on this Jets roster so far in camp.

No. 3 Jordan Whitehead

Jordan Whitehead made his presence felt on the first play of 11-on-11 contact drills in training camp and hasn’t let up since.

Whitehead noticed the defense needed to shift before the play, shouted instructions to his teammates and then moved in to fill a gap and stop a running play for a two-yard loss.

Not a bad start for the new guy.

The Jets signed Whitehead this offseason to replace Marcus Maye at safety. At 25 years old, Whitehead has been a solid pro for four years and helped the Tampa Bay Buccaneers win the Super Bowl in 2021.

More attention is paid to the two other newbies in the Jets’ secondary — corners Gardner and D.J. Reed — but Whitehead’s play and leadership have been a pleasant surprise.

No. 2: Kwon Alexander

Has a player made as big an impact on this Jets roster quicker than Kwon Alexander?

The veteran has been the talk of camp since joining his new team on the field Monday just three days after signing as a free agent. Without benefit of OTAs or minicamp, Alexander was in such good shape that he stepped right into 11-on-11 contact drills, delivered some big hits and started coaching up his defensive teammates.

Jets coach Robert Saleh certainly knew what they were getting signing Alexander, having coached the linebacker in his previous gig as defensive coordinator with the San Francisco 49ers. But even he has admitted to being surprised that Alexander is in such incredible physical condition and impacting his new teammates so profoundly on and off the field with his infectious personality and incredible energy.

Signed to provide depth and leadership, Alexander has stepped in alongside C.J. Mosley and could play a really big role in New York this season. Staying healthy will be key for Alexander because he has played more than 12 games only once in seven NFL seasons.

The positive impact he has made already on the Jets makes him one of the biggest surprises of training camp.

No. 1: Mekhi Becton

That Mekhi Becton is in such excellent shape and drawing rave reviews from coaches and teammates is likely the biggest surprise in Jets training camp, at least so far.

Of course, that expectations were so low for Becton heading into camp really should be the bigger surprise. He’s an athletic freak, with massive size (6-foot-7, 365 pounds), quick feet and brute strength. And he was a first-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.

But he has been injury prone his first two seasons and played only one game because of a knee injury in 2021. Rumors abounded that he was out of shape, perhaps over 400 pounds late last season and into the offseason. “Lazy” and “fat” were more often used to describe Becton than, say, “stud.”

Saleh didn’t seem thrilled with Becton’s conditioning level at minicamp, though he chose his words very carefully.

Becton, though, surprised most by arriving at training camp in terrific shape and in a very positive state of mind. He readily accepted a change to right tackle and, by all accounts, has excelled on the field during team drills and 11-on-11s.

It’s still early, but Becton seems on the way to fulfilling his goal of making his critics “eat their words” about him this season.

[Biggs]

18 minutes ago, LIJetsFan said:

by  Jim Cerny August 4, 2022 at 9:58 AM PT

It’s still early, but Becton seems on the way to fulfilling his goal of making his critics “eat their words” about him this season.

From now on whenever I criticize Becton I'm using words low in carbs, calories and sugar. 

[More Cowbell]

Funny, I really haven't  read much about Whitehead. 

[JTJet]

This list is dumb. 

There has been little news about Whitehead. 

Kwon has been at camp like 1 day. 

Bacon may have a new attitude, but still getting ran over by everyone on the D. 

[Smashmouth]

Bacon ...that could stick covers all the bases

[JTJet]

Just now, Smashmouth said:

Bacon ...that could stick covers all the bases

I've been calling him Bacon for a little over the year at this point. 

Until his ass gets out there and proves us all wrong, he is Bacon. 

[Claymation]

44 minutes ago, More Cowbell said:

Funny, I really haven't  read much about Whitehead. 

That means your Proactiv is working.

[Integrity28]

50 minutes ago, JTJet said:

This list is dumb. 

There has been little news about Whitehead. 

Kwon has been at camp like 1 day. 

Bacon may have a new attitude, but still getting ran over by everyone on the D. 

This.

Plus, they are all starters. You expect them to perform. Irvin Charles on the other hand…

[Trotter]

It is a fair list - thanks for posting.

Possibly we have not heard much about them is because our lame ass media is so concerned about posting negativity regarding Becton and Wilson.

I get they have the most attention on them but our writers need to balance that along with the positives from non high profile players. 

[JetPotato]

1 hour ago, JTJet said:

This list is dumb. 

There has been little news about Whitehead. 

Kwon has been at camp like 1 day. 

Bacon may have a new attitude, but still getting ran over by everyone on the D. 

I love that fans that read a couple tweets think they know what's going on in camp better than the coaches and people that actually attend.

[Jethead]

Whitehead and Read were big gets. A little fast to proclaim Kwon but certainly a promising debut. Can he stay on the field?

[JiFapono]

59 minutes ago, Integrity28 said:

This.

Plus, they are all starters. You expect them to perform. Irvin Charles on the other hand…

Whitehead shouldnt be surprising but Kwon coming in straight off the streets and laying wood is surprising IMO,.  I dont think he was an assumed starter either, so I think it applies. 

And if you read the commentary, I get Becton being on the list too.  This board has killed the kid for an entire offseason for being lazy and fat.  In this very thread, someone is calling him "Bacon".  So irony at work here, he's apparently in great shape and playing really well, wouldnt that be surprising to someone that calls him Bacon?  lol

 

[Ghost420]

1 hour ago, JTJet said:

I've been calling him Bacon for a little over the year at this point. 

Until his ass gets out there and proves us all wrong, he is Bacon. 

Loser.

[section314]

I thought no cheerleaders would make the list, but I guess that would be piling on?

[JoJoTownsell1]

1 hour ago, JTJet said:

I've been calling him Bacon for a little over the year at this point. 

Until his ass gets out there and proves us all wrong, he is Bacon. 

I've never seen a jet fan so excited to take victory laps on the failure of a player.  You win SOJF of the week award. Congrats

[Integrity28]

36 minutes ago, JiFapono said:

Whitehead shouldnt be surprising but Kwon coming in straight off the streets and laying wood is surprising IMO,.  I dont think he was an assumed starter either, so I think it applies. 

And if you read the commentary, I get Becton being on the list too.  This board has killed the kid for an entire offseason for being lazy and fat.  In this very thread, someone is calling him "Bacon".  So irony at work here, he's apparently in great shape and playing really well, wouldnt that be surprising to someone that calls him Bacon?  lol

 

lol, fair

i guess in some ways, we suck so bad you could put anyone that looks competent in that list 

[FootballLove]

Mims is another. We all had written him off, some were hoping for 'something' out of him, but seems he's been killing it this TC. Mostly from Flacco and White. I'd love to see him get some 1st team reps and build some chem with ZW.

Haven't heard much from Berios yet. Most passes going to Moore. Are Berios and Moore on the field at the same time? Seems they both play the same position, with Moore getting 90% of the reps.

There was also an unknown LBer crushing and unknown RB to end the practice a few days ago. Wouldn't mind a total no-name break thru and become a team fav. I know, I know....they always get cut in the end, but still! We need some Cinderella stories in camp. 

[JTJet]

20 minutes ago, JoJoTownsell1 said:

I've never seen a jet fan so excited to take victory laps on the failure of a player.  You win SOJF of the week award. Congrats

You havent met @T0mShane and Zach Wilson then. 

[JTJet]

34 minutes ago, Ghost420 said:

Loser.

Good talk. 

[T0mShane]

1 minute ago, JTJet said:

You havent met @T0mShane and Zach Wilson then. 

Zach Wilson sucks.

[JTJet]

Just now, T0mShane said:

Zach Wilson sucks.

Never change. I love you. 

[T0mShane]

3 hours ago, LIJetsFan said:

Becton, though, surprised most by arriving at training camp in terrific shape and in a very positive state of mind. He readily accepted a change to right tackle and, by all accounts, has excelled on the field during team drills and 11-on-11s.

This is a transparent lie, but is consistent with what the Jets coaches have been trying to shoehorn into the press for the past few days.

[LIJetsFan]

1 minute ago, T0mShane said:

This is a transparent lie, but is consistent with what the Jets coaches have been trying to shoehorn into the press for the past few days.

Well I choose to overlook his puking his guts out and him being gassed that first day.  I don't know if it's my lying eye but he does look fit and in football shape to me in general.  

[The Crusher]

1 hour ago, JiFapono said:

Whitehead shouldnt be surprising but Kwon coming in straight off the streets and laying wood is surprising IMO,.  I dont think he was an assumed starter either, so I think it applies. 

And if you read the commentary, I get Becton being on the list too.  This board has killed the kid for an entire offseason for being lazy and fat.  In this very thread, someone is calling him "Bacon".  So irony at work here, he's apparently in great shape and playing really well, wouldnt that be surprising to someone that calls him Bacon?  lol

 

I love bacon, 

[slats]

11 minutes ago, FootballLove said:

Mims is another. We all had written him off, some were hoping for 'something' out of him, but seems he's been killing it this TC. Mostly from Flacco and White. I'd love to see him get some 1st team reps and build some chem with ZW.

It’s interesting that we’re not hearing more about him, especially the fact that he’s got some work with the special teams this summer - which he previously had never done. Coming into camp, I had him as the player most likely to be traded. I guess he still could be, but the fact that they’re not aggressively hyping him might be a sign that they’re, instead, looking to hold onto him. 

[Embrace the Suck]

3 hours ago, LIJetsFan said:

The veteran has been the talk of camp since joining his new team on the field Monday just three days after signing as a free agent. Without benefit of OTAs or minicamp, Alexander was in such good shape that he stepped right into 11-on-11 contact drills, delivered some big hits and started coaching up his defensive teammates.

 

[Jimmy 2 Times]

18 minutes ago, The Crusher said:

I love bacon, 

Even hogs love bacon. 

[TuscanyTile2]

Too bad Bacon is not still playing LT.  Who doesn't like a good BLT?

[Ghost420]

3 hours ago, JTJet said:

Good talk. 

Let's do it again sometime.

[JTJet]

1 hour ago, Ghost420 said:

Let's do it again sometime.

[JTJet]

2 hours ago, TuscanyTile2 said:

Too bad Bacon is not still playing LT.  Who doesn't like a good BLT?

Words cannot describe how happy this comment made me. 

[#27TheDominator]

The craziest thing to me about this staff is that they keep going after guys that were not particularly successful with them and give them a 2nd chance.  Particularly on D.  I remember the fat ******* carpetbagger bringing in all "his guys" but at least most of them had success with him Byers, William Roberts, Pepper Johnson, Jerome Henderson. 

Solomon Thomas was a huge bust in SF and didn't even make it through is rookie deal.  He went to LV and moved to DT and was okay.  They gave him small, but make the team money to play what position?  Kwon Alexander got a ton of money, tore his pec and when he was ready to return, they traded him for a conditional 5th and rotting corpse of Kiko Alonso who they cut without activating.  They drafted DJ Reed in the 5th.  He was mostly an eh slot corner.  In 2020 they waived him off the NFI list and the Seahawks picked him up.  When Quentin Dumbar got hurt, they played him outside and he did well.  Now the Jets gave him a real contract.  Even Tevin Coleman probably didn't live up to his deal in SF.

I guess they all know the system and are solid fits.  That was probably super important last year.  Maybe with how bad the D was they feel they needed more of that?  Also, I guess the vast majority were there when they made it to the super bowl against KC.

[johnnysd]

4 hours ago, #27TheDominator said:

The craziest thing to me about this staff is that they keep going after guys that were not particularly successful with them and give them a 2nd chance.  Particularly on D.  I remember the fat ******* carpetbagger bringing in all "his guys" but at least most of them had success with him Byers, William Roberts, Pepper Johnson, Jerome Henderson. 

Solomon Thomas was a huge bust in SF and didn't even make it through is rookie deal.  He went to LV and moved to DT and was okay.  They gave him small, but make the team money to play what position?  Kwon Alexander got a ton of money, tore his pec and when he was ready to return, they traded him for a conditional 5th and rotting corpse of Kiko Alonso who they cut without activating.  They drafted DJ Reed in the 5th.  He was mostly an eh slot corner.  In 2020 they waived him off the NFI list and the Seahawks picked him up.  When Quentin Dumbar got hurt, they played him outside and he did well.  Now the Jets gave him a real contract.  Even Tevin Coleman probably didn't live up to his deal in SF.

I guess they all know the system and are solid fits.  That was probably super important last year.  Maybe with how bad the D was they feel they needed more of that?  Also, I guess the vast majority were there when they made it to the super bowl against KC.

Saleh has admitted that they actually thought Reed was an outside guy but refused to put him out there. He was quite a bit better than "played well"

[jetstream23]

There's a chance this defense takes a big step forward.  The talent on the field this year will be night-and-day different from last season, as much as 50% different in the starting lineup.  Last year's group had a notable ceiling simply because of the lack of talent on the D.

Carl Lawson is back, Jordan Whitehead at S looking good, Kwon Alexander upgrading a subpar LB group, DJ Reed at CB, and 1st round talents in Sauce Gardner and Jermaine Johnson.  On paper, huge potential for this group if they can figure out how to play together well.  And this doesn't include some other good players like Quinnen, JFM, etc.  

[Jethead]

Yowzir but don't sleep on CJ. He's the QB of the defense.