As the NFL season nears, Quinnen Williams finds himself at a pivotal fork in his career. At 28 years old, he enters the final year of his three-year, $18 million contract with the New York Jets. Williams made arguably the leap his name implies by leading the Eagles with 10.5 sacks this season. He’ll be an unrestricted free agent when the season is done. How he plays in these last three will be very important to his long-term future with the Jets. It will almost certainly affect his next deal in free agency, too.
Williams’ new Jets teammate Will McDonald IV can’t contain his excitement for the upcoming season. He’s really, really looking forward to playing creator-ahead-on with star quarterback Aaron Rodgers. McDonald noted, “I always wanted to sack Aaron Rodgers, from a little kid.” The former FSU standout has put on 15 pounds since the beginning of training camp. He’s dropped down to about 245 pounds as he prepares for a long, grueling NFL schedule.
Beyond Williams’ contract holdout and McDonald’s dream of being a unicorn, check out what else has been newsworthy for the Jets this training camp. Sauce Gardner has already been spotted training with his ball skills on display wearing a Richard Mille watch. This high-end wristwatch goes for a cool $200k to start. Adding to the watch’s appeal is the fact that Williams himself owns one, showcasing the players’ love for extravagant pieces.
At the same time, Quincy Williams, Quinnen’s brother and a linebacker for the Jets, is trying to control his own past, present and future. He boldly stated his intentions for the season: “I’m on a mission. I’m on a mission for all of it.” Quincy is under contract through 2026 and hoping to put his imprint on this year in the strongest of ways. His determination reflects the overall drive within the Jets’ organization as they seek to improve their standing in the league.
Fashanu has been another rookie who’s made headlines throughout training camp for his solid play on the field. Coaches are excited about what he’s going to bring this season. Defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn sings the rookie’s praises, calling his potential presence a “game changer.” Glenn further made the case for the importance of his role. He’s going to be huge in developing our O-line.
In case you missed it Veteran kicker Nick Folk is now back with the Jets after signing on Tuesday. At 40 years old, Folk will bring invaluable experience to the WRs. He still ranks fourth on the Jets’ all-time scoring list with a ridiculous 729 points. His addition further complicates the special teams competition as they prepare for the regular season. Now, Folk will share a locker room with Mason Taylor. Mason, being the son of former Jets star Jason Taylor, just adds another layer of the team’s past mingling with its present.
As training camp continues, players are starting to make bonds and connections, friendships and feuds. McDonald reflected on his motivation as he prepares to face quarterbacks in the league: “I’m sure he’s going to have a few tricks up his sleeve.” More than anything, this camaraderie and competition are key as the Jets continue to work on building chemistry with their first game rapidly advancing toward them.
Coaches at the elite level are deeply in touch with their players’ development and future abilities. Tanner Engstrand spoke about wide receiver Garrett Wilson’s development, stating that he occasionally brings an element of “sauce” to his routes, which can be both beneficial and challenging to manage during practice sessions.
Leave a Reply