Jets training camp: 3 takeaways from first week

Here are three takeaways from the Jets’ first week of training camp:  

1. Aaron Rodgers is moving well . . . and he can still throw.

The Jets’ hopes for this season rest on Rodgers being all the way back from a left Achilles tear. Four practices into training camp, the quarterback has looked impressive. Rodgers estimates he’s about 95% and that the other 5% will come with more reps against linemen bearing down on him.

The 40-year-old still needs to go through some joint practices and preseason games and face more pressure from the defense. He’s been scrambling in the pocket and making throws on the move. Some of those passes have been brilliant and his overall accuracy has been excellent. He said his movement is tracking the same as before the injury, if not better.

Through the first week, he unofficially completed 26 of 43 passes with six touchdowns. Rodgers was 15-for-20 with four touchdowns on Thursday and Friday. Garrett Wilson has stood out with his route running and ability to break free. The connection between Rodgers and Wilson is real and could be spectacular.  

2. The pass rush hasn’t been there.

The defense usually is ahead of the offense early, but not here. Things could change when the Jets practice in pads Monday for the first time, but Rodgers has faced little pressure. His ability to read the defense and change the call pre-snap are factors. Rodgers also gets rid of the ball quickly and delivers dimes.

You can’t underplay the presence of new left tackle Tyron Smith, one of the best, if not the best, pass protectors in the NFL. The Jets also are missing their best pass rusher with Haason Reddick holding out over a contract dispute. They will look much different with Reddick.

Bryce Huff, Quinton Jefferson and John Franklin-Myers are gone. They had a combined 19.5 sacks last year.

There’s an opportunity for Will McDonald and Micheal Clemons to step in and step up, but they haven’t made much of an impact yet. McDonald deflected a pass by Rodgers and sacked backup Tyrod Taylor. Former Falcons first-round pick Takk McKinley is making his case to stick. He has gotten to Taylor at least five times.  

3. Allen Lazard could have a bounce-back year.

Lazard was a major disappointment last year after signing a four-year, $44 million contract. He had only 23 catches and was a healthy scratch twice.

He has been clicking with Rodgers in this camp. The two played five years together in Green Bay and in Jets camp last year, and it’s definitely showing. Lazard knows the offense and knows exactly where to be and where Rodgers wants him to be. Rodgers looks for Lazard on third down and in red-zone situations.

Lazard has seven catches, including three for touchdowns. All three were in red-zone periods. All the attention that Wilson and running back Breece Hall will receive, plus Mike Williams when he returns from an ACL tear, could open things up for Lazard to be a playmaker.

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.