The offense came out hot in Wednesday's practice, the second of minicamp, in what was a beautiful day at 1 Jets Drive after Tuesday's overcast day.
Quarterbacks Justin Fields and Tyrod Taylor each led their units on touchdown drives in their first series during the move-the-ball period. Fields orchestrated an 11-play march capped by a Josh Reynolds touchdown in the back corner of the end zone.
The highlight of the possession was Fields' perfect deep pass that fell in the bucket of Garrett Wilson with Brandon Stephens in good coverage. The defense responded and nearly forced a goal-line stand after safety Tony Adams had a would-be tackle for loss on Fields and Jamien Sherwood broke up a ball intended for Tyler Johnson in the back middle of the end zone, but Fields connected with Reynolds for the score on third down.
"The first thing that popped out to me was his athleticism," Adams said of Fields. "You don't see a lot of quarterbacks move the way he's able to move and I think people underestimate his arm talent."
He added of the TFL: "He can run, but I can run, too. It's fun. I can't wait for training camp because it's going to get real."
Taylor's possession was on the brink of stalling after rookie LB Francisco Mauigoa's would-be sack forced third-and-15. The veteran quarterback, however, ripped a ball over the middle to WR Brandon Smith with rookie CB Azareye'h Thomas in coverage to convert. RB Isaiah Davis exploded for a chunk gain on the next play before Taylor crossed the goal line on a keeper.
Later in the period, Fields, Taylor and Adrian Martinez had the opportunity to lead their group in different situational moments.
Fields, starting from the offense's 35-yard line down by 20-14 with 28 seconds left and no timeouts, led his group to the 1-yard line, but could not find paydirt. Cornerback Michael Carter II was flagged for pass
interference in the end zone on a ball intended for Wilson on the final play of regulation, which gave the offense an untimed down and a chance to score. Fields-to-Wilson has been a successful connection throughout the spring, but Fields' pass sailed wide right with Stephens in coverage.
"I think those call-it periods have been good for the offense and challenging guys to learn all the plays on the call sheet," Fields said. "I think this last week or week and a half, the guys have really grasped onto the playbook and really been improving."
Taylor started from his own 28-yard line down by 1 point with 28 seconds left. He got the group in field-goal range after a pass interference penalty and a chunk gain over the middle from WR Allen Lazard, but rookie K Caden Davis' 50-yard attempt was pushed wide right.
Martinez, who started at the 50-yard line down by 16-10, found the end zone in four plays. He started the drive with a beautiful deep pass to UDFA WR Jamaal Pritchett down the sideline, whose momentum carried him out of bounds near the 5-yard line. On the final play of regulation, Martinez kept the ball and crossed the goal line as time expired.
See Quinnen Williams and the defense battle Garrett Wilson and the offense on the field during the second practice of mandatory minicamp.
Jetcetera
On the first play in the move-the-ball period, DL Micheal Clemons got in the backfield and stopped Justin Fields from finding daylight as he scrambled. … LB Marcelino McCrary-Ball nearly had a sack and later forced a fumble on rookie TE Mason Taylor. Undrafted rookie CB Jordan Clark showed good recognition and close when he met TE Stone Smartt following a short toss from Tyrod Taylor. … Rookie WR Arian Smith, CB Tre Swilling and veteran edge Jermaine Johnson, who could start training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list, worked to the side with trainers. … WR-KR Xavier Gipson continued to be active throughout practice.
