Last week, Jets head coach Adam Gase didn't want to comment on rookie DL Quinnen Williams', nor any interior lineman's, practice performance until he watched the film. Such was not the case Thursday.

Williams was a frequent visitor in the backfield and made a pair of eye-popping run stops in an early team period.

"He showed up," head coach Adam Gase said. "He was showing up in the backfield where you could see who made the play, which is great to see. He looks like he's moving well, he's understanding what we're doing and he's playing faster."

Playing with the second-team defense, the No. 3 overall pick first lined up inside and showed good instincts and mobility as he stuffed RB Eli McGuire on an outside run. A few plays later, the 6'3", 295-pounder met McGuire again, but this time immediately after the back received the handoff.

"Him practicing like that, it's great for us to see," Gase said. "You don't have to wait for preseason games to see there's a lot of things he can do and do well. Once we get going in the preseason and he starts seeing some different run-game schemes from other teams that maybe we don't do, the more he sees, the better. That's the experience a rookie needs. He needs as many looks as possible."

Burnett Burning Up
While the starting receivers are pretty much set in stone, wideouts Deontay Burnett and Tim White have stepped up lately as they, along with a handful of others, are fighting for a roster spot.

Burnett, who played with quarterback Sam Darnold at USC, flashed at times in 2018 and finished the year with a five-catch, 73-yard performance against the Patriots in Week 17. The 21-year-old focused on his speed and route discipline in the offseason and often worked out with Darnold.

Burnett made a beautiful TD grab Thursday in a 1-on-1 red-zone period over CB Arthur Maulet in the back corner of the end zone. On his next rep, Burnett ran a slant-and-go to create separation from CB Parry Nickerson.

"For me, I just like to make a play on the ball. Any ball thrown my way is a good ball. It's not really what I like, it's more that it's an opportunity for me to make a play," said Burnett. "I just to be reliable, be coachable and be available for the team in any way shape or form that I can help this team, that's pretty much what I'm here to do."

White was equally impressive Thursday as he reeled in a pair of deep passes down the sideline from Luke Falk in a late-game situation. Even though both Burnett and White have both found a groove, preseason will be the real litmus test.

"When you start doing this in training camp, you kind of get used to the guys and how a DB is going to handle you, how he's going to pressure you," Gase said. "When you get into a real game, you have to study that on film and then apply it on a Sunday whether it be preseason or regular season. That's the challenge. That's the hardest part. The good ones, they figure it out.

"The guys that show good stuff out here and then transition to that and they kind of disappear. That's the difference."

Jetcetera
Safety Jamal Adams collided with cornerback Trumaine Johnson in the final team period and took to a knee before walking off the field under his own power. He later said he was fine and had the wind knocked out of him…Quincy Enunwa scored on that same play and capped off a 59-yard drive that began with the offense trailing, 23-17, with 1:18 remaining and one timeout. … With the offense pinned back inside their own 10-yard line, Le'Veon Bell broke loose for about a 30-yard gain. … Robby Anderson made a nice sideline grab with Rontez Miles in coverage and was able to keep two feet in bounds. … CB Arthur Maulet suffered a groin injury and did not return to practice.