The Jets yielded two TDs in the opening quarter as Joe Flacco (6-7-97-1TD), the Jets' backup to Sam Darnold last season, led the Birds to 137 total yards. Saleh had most of his first-stringers on the bench minus a trio of players who could potentially start in DT Folorunso Fatukasi, DE Bryce Huff and nickel Michael Carter II plus a rookie linebacker penciled in to start in Jamien Sherwood. The Auburn product couldn't get Jalen Reagor down to the ground on a short catch that turned into an 19-yard gain and then couldn't close the gap on Scott before the Eagles back kept S J.T. Hassell inside enough to get space up the boundary. Then on Philly's second possession, the Jets were flagged for unnecessary roughness when Fatukasi and CB Bryce Hall combined for a body slam of RB Kenneth Gainwell.
"The first one he got unlucky," Saleh said of Sherwood's tackle attempt on Reagor. "That's why you don't let go. Every time he hits the field, he's going to learn something and it'll help when he has C.J. [Mosley] flanking him and to be able to talk to him and all that stuff. Then obviously with Marcus [Maye] flanking him on the other side just from a communication standpoint. I thought it was so important for him and [Hamsah Nasirildeen] to get out there and execute the best they could."
Fatukasi and Hassell each racked up sacks of Flacco in the first half, but immediately before intermission Flacco connected to J.J. Arcega-Whiteside for a 42-yard score with seconds on the game clock. The Eagles receiver caught the ball over CB Isaiah Dunn and then ran through an Elijah Campbell tackle attempt. Campbell and rookie CB Jason Pinnock prevented further damage in the fourth, forcing a touchback after ripping the ball out of Travis Fulgham's grasp as the Eagles WR reached for the end zone.
"The first one he got unlucky," Saleh said of Sherwood's tackle attempt on Reagor. "That's why you don't let go. Every time he hits the field, he's going to learn something and it'll help when he has C.J. [Mosley] flanking him and to be able to talk to him and all that stuff. Then obviously with Marcus [Maye] flanking him on the other side just from a communication standpoint. I thought it was so important for him and [Hamsah Nasirildeen] to get out there and execute the best they could."
Fatukasi and Hassell each racked up sacks of Flacco in the first half, but immediately before intermission Flacco connected to J.J. Arcega-Whiteside for a 42-yard score with seconds on the game clock. The Eagles receiver caught the ball over CB Isaiah Dunn and then ran through an Elijah Campbell tackle attempt. Campbell and rookie CB Jason Pinnock prevented further damage in the fourth, forcing a touchback after ripping the ball out of Travis Fulgham's grasp as the Eagles WR reached for the end zone.
