D.J. Reed believes Jets can make jump to Super Bowl

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — D.J. Reed reached the Super Bowl in his second NFL season as a member of the 49ers, one year after they had a losing record. The cornerback believes the Jets can make that kind of leap.

“I would definitely say that this team is definitely on that trajectory,” Reed said after practice Saturday. “We definitely have a chance to win it all.”

That’s a popular opinion from many Jets players. They believed it last year when Aaron Rodgers first became a Jet, but Rodgers suffered a season-ending Achilles tendon tear four snaps into the season, and the Jets careened to their 13th consecutive year of missing the playoffs.

Rodgers is back healthy and the Jets have made improvements on both sides of the ball. Robert Saleh said he notices the Jets are much more “businesslike” and “locked in” than they were last year, when the hype train was at an all-time high.

Reed agreed, saying the Jets are much further ahead of where they were at this point last year.

“The offense feels like night and day compared to my previous years here,” Reed said. “Even last year, it felt like when we started, it was a little slow, even in training camp. It’s like right now on defense and offense, everybody’s clicking. It feels like we’re playing real football already and training camp just started.”

This is Year 2 in the offense for most of the players. That familiarity with the system, each other and Rodgers has allowed the offense to test the much-more-established Jets defense, which was ranked fifth and third, respectively, the last two seasons.

Garrett Wilson has been difficult to contain. He’s beaten Reed a couple of times for long gains, including a touchdown.

“I’ll just say [Rodgers] and Garrett, they definitely on a different zone right now,” Reed said. “Their chemistry, they’re doing stuff on the go. They run a certain route. If you over-pursue, they’re running a different route. They’re definitely in a different element, but it’s definitely going to make me better.”

That’s where Reed believes the Jets are ahead of the 2019 San Francisco 49ers, for whom Saleh served as defensive coordinator. The Jets’ offense, with Rodgers running it, is better than the then-Jimmy Garoppolo-led 49ers who lost to Kansas City in the Super Bowl.

Breece Hall has become one of the best running backs in the NFL. The line is better with the additions of Tyron Smith, Morgan Moses, John Simpson and Olu Fashanu. The offense should be tougher to defend when free-agent pickup Mike Williams returns from a torn ACL.

“I feel like our offense is honestly better with Aaron and Garrett,” Reed said. “I feel like Garrett is going to have a really big year. We still don’t even got Mike Williams. Him coming into the picture, that could totally change things for the positive. Even [Allen] Lazard, he’s been playing great as well. Our defense, it’s self-explanatory what we did the last two years.”

It’s very early, but there is reason to be optimistic that the Jets finally can end their long playoff drought and make a postseason run.

The offense is not fully whole yet with Williams and right tackle Moses (torn triceps) sidelined and right guard Alijah Vera-Tucker on a rep count in his return from an Achilles tendon tear. The defense is awaiting the arrival of Pro Bowl edge rusher Haason Reddick, who is in a contract dispute.

When the Jets have all their pieces and they mesh together, they believe they will be tough to beat.

“Once everything is connected, I feel like we got the potential to be something great,” Smith said.

Smith is in his 14th season. The former Cowboy and future Hall of Fame tackle said winning a Super Bowl is the only thing his career is missing.

“That’s the goal for everybody,” Smith said. “That’s exactly why I’m here right now.”

By Al Iannazzone

al.iannazzone@newsday.comAl_Iannazzone

Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.