Aug 17, 2024; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; New York Jets quarterback Andrew Peasley (14) tries to elude Carolina Panthers linebacker DJ Johnson (52) and defensive end LaBryan Ray (93) during the first quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
NFL: New York Jets at Carolina Panthers
(Charlotte, NC) – It was a battle of special teams at Bank of America Stadium on Saturday night, when the Jets visited town to take on the Panthers. While no one lit up the box score on either side of the ball, the kickers and returners proved their value in a close game.
New York went straight into the depth chart as neither Aaron Rodgers nor Tyrod Taylor played. It was Andrew Peasley starting the game and Adrian Martinez taking the reins in the second half. This comes as no surprise as a majority of the players in the starting rotation have not yet seen the field.
First round pick Olu Fashanu did play, this time at right tackle. The Jets have been working him out at both left and right tackle and he is projected to be the backup for both sides. His strength seems to be in pass blocking, with the run blocking parts leaving some work to be done.
Kickers Austin Seibert and Greg Zuerlein combined for a perfect 5/5 on field goal attempts which proved to be the difference in the 15-12 win. Siebert’s second field goal neared a career long for him as he connected from 52 yards away. Zuerlein is expected to be the starter heading into the season.
Little-known undrafted rookie Brandon Codrington made a name for himself in the return game. At just 5’9” out of North Carolina Central, Codrington zipped through defenders averaging 23.0 yards per punt return. His biggest play of the night came when he took a kickoff back 63 yards, setting the Jets up nicely for a short field goal.
The Jets’ defense lived up to their expectations and proved that their strength comes through depth. The front seven kept Carolina in check for most of the game and didn’t concede a touchdown until the last play of the game, one that made no difference in the outcome.
