Jets' Training Camp Quotes of Note from Practice Day No. 2
The New York Jets completed their second preseason practice as they ease into training camp ahead of the Hall of Fame Game.
After veterans and rookies arrived on Wednesday, Gang Green hosted pad-less practices on Thursday and Friday. As head coach Robert Saleh noted, that will change next week.
"They [the pads] come on Tuesday [July 25]," said Saleh.
In addition to the third-year head coach, three Jets' players DL Quinton Jefferson, CB Sauce Gardner and TE Tyler Conklin spoke from the podium following Preseason Practice No. 2.
There's one notable quote from each of the four men listed below.
Robert Saleh
"Odds are if you enjoy playing football, you’re going to want to keep doing that, but I wouldn’t put pressure on him to commit to something like that anyway, but I’d be shocked if he doesn’t play multiple years, I mean he looks like a little kid out there."
Saleh responded to the question of Aaron Rodgers, a four-time NFL MVP, playing with the Jets beyond the 2023 season. One day earlier, the 39-year-old Rodgers used the words "not just a one-year thing" when describing the Jets' ability to contend as constructed.
Rodgers, who admitted to being "90 percent retired" heading into his offseason darkness retreat, is under contract through the 2024 season and is due more than $100 million total over that time period.
Quinton Jefferson
"You see that d-line? We got some dawgs out there. I was already familiar playing with a few players on there. It's just about comfortability. I feel like there's a lot of players who are just like me, same hunger. I was excited to get out there with a great group of guys."
Jefferson revealed a reason why he chose to sign with the Jets as a free agent this offseason.
The 30-year-old defensive tackle played in 50 of a possible 50 games since 2020, but he has spent each of the past three seasons with a different franchise. He accounted for 5.5 sacks and 13 QB hits with the Seattle Seahawks last fall.
Tyler Conklin
"I love the way these coaches, they teach this offense. Obviously, it's really tight end friendly, so our room loves that. We really like this offense, from a run game and pass game standpoint."
Conklin played in a version of the West Coast offense last year with the Jets and also during his time in Minnesota. The veteran tight end, who was Gang Green's second-leading receiver in 2022, claims to have an understanding of the core concepts in Nathaniel Hackett's West Coast-rooted offensive scheme.
Conklin, who turns 28 years old later this month, admitted to growing up as a Green Bay Packers' fan. He incorporated clips of Aaron Rodgers's former targets, specifically Jermichael Finley and Robert Tonyan, into his offseason film study this spring.
Sauce Gardner
"I'm just more team oriented. This year, I'm taking a whole different approach, not saying I wasn't last year. I just know we got something special right now. I can just tell how we are in meetings, how our bond is. My main focus is being a better teammate and doing whatever I can so that we can win the Super Bowl."
Gardner performed at an All-Pro level en-route to the 2022 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award, but his focus is not about acquiring more individual honors. The level-headed CB1 reinforced his team-first mentality when he called fellow Jet D.J. Reed his "favorite cornerback in the league."
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