Worst to first? Jets' Jordan Whitehead can see it
Jets safety Jordan Whitehead talks to the media during training camp in Florham Park, N.J., on July 27. Credit: Patrick E. McCarthy
Jordan Whitehead has been on a team that has gone from worst to first, and he can see the Jets doing the same.
Tampa Bay finished last in its division in Whitehead’s rookie season and won the Super Bowl two years later. Of course, signing Tom Brady had something to do with that.
The Jets went 4-13 last season to finish last in the AFC East. They’ve won six games in the past two years, but Whitehead, the starting safety the Jets signed in the offseason, is confident that this team is going to contend.
“Honestly, we have the pieces,” he said. “Every position group got them dogs on the team, and we have a lot of depth . . . We can really be great. It’s just about being consistent every day. I’ve seen that in camp from all of us, just consistency.”
The preseason is not a barometer of what a team will do when the games count, but Whitehead believes the Jets’ 3-0 record in the preseason was an indication of what they can be.
“We know what we’re capable of doing,” he said. “We know that all that hard work that we put in it shows off and that showed in preseason.”
Reed recovering
Starting cornerback D.J. Reed’s status for Week 1 remains unclear. He hurt his knee during the Jets’ joint practice with the Giants on Aug. 25.
Robert Saleh said Reed went through a workout on Monday and that more will be known on Wednesday, which is when the Jets issue their first injury report of the season. If Reed can’t play, Bryce Hall or Brandin Echols will start opposite rookie Sauce Gardner.
Jets captains
The captains, as voted on by the players, are Zach Wilson (offense), C.J. Mosley (defense) and Justin Hardee (special teams). All three were captains last year. Saleh said the coaches will pick a fourth captain for each game day.
Jet streams
The Jets signed offensive lineman Conor McDermott and released running back Zonovan Knight.
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
More Jets
