Head coaches around the league are approaching the preseason differently than in previous years after the NFL went from four preseason games to three. Typically, the third preseason game would often be referred to as a dress rehearsal for the regular season, which meant the starters would receive extended playing time. The final game, however, usually meant limited, if any, action for the starters. Jets head coach Robert Saleh and his staff haven't decided on their approach.
"Joe [Douglas] and I were talking about that yesterday," Saleh said. "Cause half the league isn't playing anyone and the other half are playing them. And then there's young coaches not playing anybody but then the veteran coaches like [Bill] Belichick, [Mike] Tomlin and Andy Reid are playing their guys and it's like, 'what's right'?
"We got a ridiculously young team and they are growing and learning and all of these experiences are so important to them. I feel like they've gotten so much better from the first day of camp until now and to pull off now, I think we'd be doing them an injustice."
Even though rookie OL Alijah Vera-Tucker and rookie WR Elijah Moore returned to practice this week in the joint sessions against the Eagles, they're unlikely to play in the preseason finale Friday night. Rookie QB Zach Wilson, however, may and the rest of the starters may play, but for "no more than a half."
"I want to play [Wilson]," Saleh said. "I do, so we're talking about it. But right now, I'm leaning towards playing at least the starting offensive line, quarterback and a majority of the defensive payers."
"Joe [Douglas] and I were talking about that yesterday," Saleh said. "Cause half the league isn't playing anyone and the other half are playing them. And then there's young coaches not playing anybody but then the veteran coaches like [Bill] Belichick, [Mike] Tomlin and Andy Reid are playing their guys and it's like, 'what's right'?
"We got a ridiculously young team and they are growing and learning and all of these experiences are so important to them. I feel like they've gotten so much better from the first day of camp until now and to pull off now, I think we'd be doing them an injustice."
Even though rookie OL Alijah Vera-Tucker and rookie WR Elijah Moore returned to practice this week in the joint sessions against the Eagles, they're unlikely to play in the preseason finale Friday night. Rookie QB Zach Wilson, however, may and the rest of the starters may play, but for "no more than a half."
"I want to play [Wilson]," Saleh said. "I do, so we're talking about it. But right now, I'm leaning towards playing at least the starting offensive line, quarterback and a majority of the defensive payers."