WATCH: Three things to look for in Jets' preseason finale vs. Eagles
As the New York Jets get set for their final game of preseason vs. the visiting Philadelphia Eagles, there's plenty of intriguing plots to follow.
Let's take a look at three of the prominent storylines for Week 4:
Will a third quarterback emerge?
With Trevor Siemian's role as the top backup to Sam Darnold already etched in stone, quarterbacks Luke Falk and Davis Webb will be competing to convince the Jets to roster a third quarterback.
Falk, 24, has bounced around the league quite a bit over the past year. He's the better of the two quarterbacks in Jets camp, completing 16 of 18 passes for 139 yards and two touchdowns. His biggest drawback, however, is that he tends to hold onto the ball too long.
While Falk has had the better summer, Webb has the higher pedigree. A former third-round pick of the New York Giants in 2017, Webb was selected in hopes he could be Eli Manning's eventual successor. His inconsistencies have followed him to his new team, however, completing just 11 of 22 passes for 77 yards and two interceptions.
Both players could very well be playing for a position that doesn't exist, though, as the Jets could very well opt to go heavier at other positions, and going with just two quarterbacks.
In what's become normalcy in the NFL, more teams are going with just two signal-callers on the 53-man roster. The more likely scenario is the team cutting bait with both players, with the hope that Falk clears waivers. He would be an intriguing practice squad stash.
Will Deontay Burnett survive cutdown day?
My answer? A resounding yes. After identifying the Jets' top three wide receivers, figuring out the depth roles are anyone's guess.
We already know that Greg Dortch is probably safe, as he is the team's top punt returner. Josh Bellamy likely figures into the equation due his special teams prowess. If they decide to keep a sixth, though, Burnett is the logical choice.
Just 21-years-old, he's already spent a year in the Jets' system, playing in five games last season. His familiarity with the coaching staff should help him ascend in his second season.
Though still a bit raw, rostering him could pay dividends down the road.
Do the Jets have enough quality depth in the secondary?
There are many layers to this question, mainly because there are several moving parts. Joe Douglas addressed some of those depth concerns over the past couple of weeks, adding safety Derrick Kindred off waivers and trading for cornerback Nate Hairston on Wednesday.
Undrafted free agent Alex Brown has also come on as of late.
While it's hard to project exactly Hairston fits, he'll likely be given every opportunity to carve out a significant role.
On the flip side, we'll have a much better idea where Kindred fits after Thursday's game. The fourth-year safety will be competing against Doug Middleton and Brandon Bryant for the team's fourth safety role. His experience and versatility seemingly gives him the inside track.
Brown will need another strong outing to garner final roster consideration.
While Douglas has already began to revamp the secondary, expect to see a couple more new faces by Sunday.
