The Leftovers: Preseason 2017 (Pt. 3)
During preseason we've been looking across the other rosters around the league at how some of the players who've been on the Jets roster over the past couple of seasons are faring. This will enable us to get an early idea about whether letting these players go was a mistake or a well-timed move.
Since there's no practice today, let's check in on how those ex-Jets to have played in preseason so far are getting on.
We'll start with the highest profile players and work our way down the list:
Ryan Fitzpatrick - QB - Tampa Bay
The Bucs haven't played since our last update. Fitzpatrick is 12-for-19 for 92 yards and two interceptions heading into tomorrow night's game against the Browns.
Brandon Marshall - WR - New York Giants
Marshall was targeted twice in the Giants' second game but recorded just one catch for two yards and had to get X-rays on a shoulder injury after the game. It seems likely he won't play tomorrow night against the Jets.
Eric Decker - WR - Tennessee
Decker didn't play in the Titans' second preseason game and hasn't been targeted yet this preseason. Tennessee hosts the Bears on Sunday afternoon.
David Harris - LB - New England
Harris made his Patriots debut in their loss to Houston and performed quite well. He had four tackles, including a run stuff, and gave up a short catch on his only target in coverage. New England travels to Detroit tonight for their third preseason game.
Breno Giacomini - OT - Houston
Giacomini once again made the start at right tackle, but he struggled in pass protection. Undrafted rookie Harvey Langi beat him a couple of times and drove him back in the pocket another time. Houston travels to New Orleans tomorrow night.
Calvin Pryor - S - Cleveland
Pryor didn't play much against the Giants and only recorded one tackle, on special teams. He was targeted unsuccessfully, once, in coverage. The Browns travel to Tampa Bay tomorrow night.
Marcus Gilchrist - S - Houston
Gilchrist made his debut against New England but didn't make much of an impact. His only tackle came downfield after a 14-yard run. He also had a missed tackle but that play was negated by a penalty anyway. He'll play again in the game against New Orleans tomorrow night.
Nick Folk - K - Tampa Bay
Folk hasn't played since our last update but the Bucs play the Browns tomorrow night. He'll be looking to bounce back after having missed two kicks in the previous game.
Geno Smith - QB - New York Giants
Smith put up decent numbers again, completing 11 of 15 passes with two dropped. However, he once again threw a terrible interception, seemingly not seeing a defender underneath after having driven the Giants down inside the five. He didn't complete a single pass down the field. It will be interesting to see how he fares against the Jets tomorrow night.
Jarvis Jenkins - DL - Kansas City
Jenkins came off the bench in the win against the Bengals, but contributed well. He was in on three run stops and also had a couple of pressures. The Chiefs travel to Seattle tomorrow night.
Mike Catapano - OLB - Houston
Catapano had been without a team since the end of last season but was signed by the Texans a few days ago. He can make his debut in New Orleans tomorrow night.
Jeremy Ross - WR - Arizona
Ross continues to have a pretty good preseason with the Cardinals. In this game, he caught four passes for 32 yards and had a seven-yard punt return. Down seven with nine seconds to go, his touchdown gave the Cardinals a chance to win, but the two-point conversion attempt that also went his way was unsuccessful:
He didn't do all of his damage in garbage time though. His catch and run over by the sideline set up the Cards' first score. Arizona is in Atlanta for their next game tomorrow night.
Brandon Wilds - RB - Cleveland
Wilds didn't see any playing time against the Giants on Monday night having barely played in the first game. The Browns travel to Tampa Bay on Saturday for their next game.
Braedon Bowman - TE - New Orleans
Bowman saw action with his new team for the first time against the Chargers. While he wasn't targeted, he had a couple of good run blocks. New Orleans hosts Houston tomorrow night.
Donald Hawkins - OL - Kansas City
Hawkins had a rough game against the Bengals, struggling in pass protection against Chris Smith, who beat him a handful of times. His run blocking wasn't too bad, but he false started twice. The Chiefs play in Seattle tomorrow.
Troymaine Pope - RB - Indianapolis
After a productive first game, Pope didn't get any carries last week, although he caught three passes in the fourth quarter. The first of these passes lost nine yards as he broke several tackles as he tried but failed to make yardage by reversing his field. In all, the three catches netted five yards and no first downs. He also had another pass fall incomplete as he failed to make a tough one handed catch in the flat. The Colts travel to Pittsburgh tomorrow.
KD Cannon - WR - Los Angeles Rams
Cannon hasn't been used yet by the Rams, having seen the field on just two special teams in his first game and not at all last weekend. He did beat Kevin Hart in a race in practice though. They play the Chargers on Saturday night.
Austin Calitro - LB - San Francisco
Calitro couldn't build on a productive first game, as he had just one tackle - downfield after a first down catch and also missed a tackle on defense. He did get in on a stop in punt coverage though. The 49ers play on Monday night in Minnesota.
Devin Street - WR - Houston
After a disappointing first game, Street didn't see the field at all against New England and was waived/injured during the week.
Bruce Ellington - WR - Houston
Ellington was one of the reasons Street was expendable. Having just signed a few days beforehand, he made the start against New England and had four receptions for 93 yards, including this great catch:
Ellington also fielded one punt, but didn't make any yards on the return. He dropped one pass.
Jordan Todman - RB/KR - Houston
Todman, released by the Jets two days ago, became the latest ex-Jet to be picked up by the Texans when they announced today that he'd signed for them.
Jace Amaro - TE - Tennessee
Amaro was only in for five snaps in the Titans' most recent game, although he did catch a 10-yard pass on one of these. He also flashed on special teams, with two stops. The Titans host the Bears on Saturday afternoon.
Trevor Reilly - OLB - Miami
Reilly continues to work with the second unit in an off-ball role. He had one tackle in limited defensive work in last night's game, although he also missed a tackle. He made more contributions on special teams with a tackle, a fumble recovery and a downed punt.
Tommy Bohanon - FB - Jacksonville
Bohanon started last night's game but only played a handful of snaps. He missed one block. He's in a competition with seventh round rookie Marquez Williams and seems to be ahead of him on the depth chart but could find himself being replaced in favor of the younger and cheaper option as he was last year with Julian Howsare.
Jarvis Harrison - OL - Tampa Bay
The Bucs haven't played since our last update but Harrison will hope to get some reps on Saturday night against the Browns.
Wes Saxton - TE - Buffalo
The Bills haven't played since our last update and Saxton hasn't caught a pass yet this preseason. They will travel to Baltimore tomorrow night.
Darryl Morris - CB - Indianapolis
Morris was expected to be in the mix for the Colts' slot corner role, but he missed the first two games through injury and was placed on injured reserve a couple of days ago.
Jeremy Butler - WR - Buffalo
Butler has also been injured. The Bills play Butler's former team next, in Baltimore tomorrow night.
Raheem Mostert - RB - San Francisco
Mostert rushed for 89 yards in the first game, but didn't see any action on offense last weekend. He did return two kick-offs for 42 yards though. The 49ers travel to face the Vikings on Sunday night.
Darius Jennings - WR - Tennessee
Jennings caught his first pass of the preseason on a 21-yard play-action pass down the seam against the Panthers. The Titans host the Bears on Sunday afternoon.
Kyle Friend - OL - Pittsburgh
Friend saw action off the bench in the Steelers' second preseason game and, while he didn't have much of an impact, his performance was more consistent than in the first game and he didn't allow any pressure. The Steelers' next game is on Saturday night against the Colts.
Jesse Davis - OL - Miami
Having started the first two preseason games, Davis came off the bench at left guard and struggled again. He got beaten a few times in pass protection, including once for a sack, and didn't make much of an impact in the running game either.
Lawrence Okoye - DL - Miami
Okoye has been looking good as a pass rusher and had another pressure last night, but he struggled to hold up against the run. He's still languishing on the third unit.
Mike Liedtke - OL - Tampa Bay
The Bucs haven't played since our last update but Liedtke will be looking to bounce back from a rough last game in Saturday's night's meeting with the Browns.
Bernard Pierce - RB - Denver
Pierce did not see action for the Broncos at all in preseason due to injury. He was released during the week.
Shelby Harris - DL - Denver
Harris has been a revelation for the Broncos in the first two games, once again grading out as one of the best players on the field in Denver's second game per PFF. Here's what they said about his performance:
The fourth-year defensive tackle put together his second straight dominant preseason performance Saturday night. He may not have had a tackle on the stat sheet, but he had a batted pass, won multiple reps as a pass-rusher, and affected a handful of runs.
Jerome Cunningham - TE - Tennessee
Cunningham still hasn't been targeted yet this preseason, but continues to do a decent job as a run blocker. He'll be hoping they look to feature him more on Saturday afternoon against the Bears.
Sean Hickey - OL - Miami
In his Dolphins' debut, Hickey only played a handful of snaps at right tackle at the end of the game. He was flagged for illegal formation on 3rd-and-4.
Titus Davis - WR - Chicago
Davis made his Bears debut against Arizona, catching a 14-yard pass. He was targeted unsuccessfully two other times. The Bears travel to Tennessee tomorrow afternoon.
Dane Evans - QB - Philadelphia
Evans saw action on a couple of series at the end of the Eagles' win over the Dolphins, but just handed the ball off six times and then took a knee twice to run out the clock. He might see a lot of action against the Jets next week.
Barrett Gouger - OL - Los Angeles Chargers
Gouger hasn't seen any playing time in either of the Chargers' preseason games so far. He'll hope to get his shot against the Rams tomorrow night.
Keevan Lucas - WR - Philadelphia
Lucas hasn't received any playing time either. Under the old rules, he'd have had a good chance of being cut before ever seeing the field, as teams reduced their roster down to 75. However, now he has a better chance of seeing action against the Jets.
Darius Victor - RB - New Orleans
Victor got plenty of reps against the Chargers and carried 14 times for 58 yards, which included three separate runs of at least 10 yards. He didn't catch any passes. The Saints host Houston tomorrow night.
Of course there are still several recent departures who aren't currently with a team, such as Nick Mangold and Darrelle Revis. We'll add these to the list if they get a deal.