Last call for roster spots on the Jets.
The Jets practiced Sunday with 80 players and are scheduled to do so again Monday before cutting down to 53 by 4 p.m. Tuesday. While some teams finished with their preseason games already have begun making cuts, the Jets didn’t trim any fat after tying the Eagles on Friday, which suggests general manager Joe Douglas could be wisely protecting against a late injury.
So, it’s also an opportunity to make a final impression.
“There’s a lot of spots that are close,” coach Robert Saleh said. “I know Joe is grinding his butt off to try to find the fine line that determines which ones make and which ones don’t. These are the hardest parts of camp because you know guys have put everything on the line and you just want them to be successful. A lot of discussions made between now and then.”
Saleh said cut-day discussions often boil down to a player’s overall body of work and a handful of variables, such as age and character. The Jets are No. 2 in the waiver priority list and could use Wednesday to bolster their already injury-riddled defense by claiming cuts from other teams.
“It’s like a second draft,” Saleh said. “But it’s still a hard thing to do to claim somebody off another roster because of the amount of work you’ve put in with your guys. More often than not, you trust the work and you want to see them evolve, especially with the investment you’ve already put in. [Waivers] is a great game to play, but it’s a lot harder than people realize.”
The defensive-minded Saleh doesn’t need to be in positional meeting rooms to observe. He has the ability from his office to watch and record all installation meetings — an idea he borrowed from two-time Super Bowl-winning coach Mike Shanahan and his son, 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan. Saleh focused Sunday on the offense.
“It’s not necessarily to spy but … what you find, in talking to ‘Papa’ and Kyle, is when the head coach is present in the room, [assistant] coaches tend to coach differently because they’re trying not to show up guys and embarrass guys in front of the head coach,” Saleh said.
“At the same time, you have those opportunities to record meetings so when you do get new players in the building, they have a chance to go watch installs.”
The process dates at least as far back as former 49ers coach Bill Walsh (1979-88), according to two-time NFL general manager Randy Mueller, who heads a football advising firm nowadays.
RB La’Mical Perine, RB Michael Carter and WR Denzel Mims are “day-to-day,” but Saleh said he expects to have all three of them plus safety Lamarcus Joyner available for the Sept. 12 regular-season opener.
LT Mekhi Becton remains in the concussion protocol but “we’re not concerned about his Week 1 availability,” Saleh said. CB Brandin Echols returned to practice.