The fate of the New York Jets in 2024 will largely hang on the strength of their offense. The Jets have two major contributors who are dead set on getting themselves in tip-top shape this spring and summer to put their bricks in for the upcoming campaign.
Dennis Waszak of the Associated Press shared these quotes from new Jets wide receiver Mike Williams, who had this to say about his road back from a torn ACL that kept him out for 14 games in 2023:
“Just to get back to my normal self, that’s the main thing,” Williams said. “Everything it takes to get back to, you know, Mike Williams football, winning football. So, yeah, just grinding every day, doing whatever it takes.”
“I think I can complement the receiver group well. I can be that big, physical receiver who can make plays downfield, catch slants or do whatever it takes, really. Just getting where I fit in, make plays and get this thing rolling.”
WR Mike Williams at 100 percent could lead to a Jets offensive explosion in 2024
Williams was still able to average 13.1 yards per reception and 83 receiving yards per game in his shortened 2023 outing for the Los Angeles Chargers, proving that he still had within him, and was on pace for 1,000-yard production. The 220-pound pass-catcher will be instrumental in opening up the field for the Jets and quarterback Aaron Rodgers next year. His big play potential will only be put on full display if injury-free, which Williams believes he’ll be in full come Week 1.
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Jets: Breece Hall is working his way back from a nagging knee injury from 2023
Jets running back Breece Hall also has an ailment that he is recovering from. The fringe-1,000-yard rusher from 2023 had this to say about the work he’s put in on his body to take pressure off of his injured knee in the midst of the team’s offseason program, per John Pullano of New York Jets.com:
“I ended the season on a good note,” Hall said. “But still, even last season, I was not feeling 100 percent all the time. But now, I have had my first offseason of not just be trying to get back, but to get better and I’ve gotten better this offseason. I’m a lot leaner. I feel a lot healthier, my knee feels a lot better. I just feel like I’m back to my old self.”
Hall gained 994 yards on the ground last season. He had a couple of games that put him on the map. They include a 127-yard coming-out party in Week 1 against the Buffalo Bills, a monster 177-yard outing against the Denver Broncos in Week 5, and a season finale that saw him one-up that total with 178 rushing yards.
The 23-year-old is the featured back for New York heading into 2024. He’ll get the lion share of carries behind Rodgers, which could be around a consistent 20 touches per week. The Jets need to keep Rodgers healthy next season. Hall’s production will determine how much emphasis the team will have to place on the aerial attack, which will have a trickle-down effect on all members of the offense.
The one thing that’s for certain is, that the Jets won’t reach their regular season win projections, let alone trump the top teams in the AFC come playoff time without both of those dynamic ballers balling. The fact that they know what to zero in on to optimize their health at this stage of the offseason has to be encouraging for the franchise.