Nine years into his NFL career, C.J. Uzomah is still gaining knowledge of the game.
It’s hard not to when you’re sharing a huddle with Aaron Rodgers.
“I’m learning so much more about football than I have in my previous years combined,” the Jets’ tight end said after Sunday’s practice. “It’s everything. He wants us to look at the game through his eyes and through his lens and see the defense, see the rotations.
“He knows our defense. He’ll be like, ‘This is a blitz, [cornerback Michael Carter II] is doing this. He looked at me a half a second too long. It’s a blitz.’ Just kind of picking up on that, not just knowing our offense. Not just knowing it might be a Cover 2 or they’re going to rotate to a 3. It’s what are the keys that are that? What is the slot doing, what’s the defensive end doing, what’s the [middle linebacker] doing, what are the calls? Listening to literally everything going on and hearing him echo it, it’s a lot.”
Uzomah is coming off a disappointing 21-catch, 232-yard, two-touchdown first season with the Jets, but he is excited for his second year.
Playing with Rodgers can have that effect.
“It’s very fun for me,” Uzomah said. “It’s a lot of knowledge in a short amount of time and it’s great.”
Jets coach Robert Saleh said the team’s preseason opener Thursday against the Browns will be an opportunity for the Jets’ young players to shine.
That includes quarterback Zach Wilson, left tackle Mekhi Becton and rookie edge rusher Will McDonald IV.
The starters will not play.
Receiver Garrett Wilson has a low-ankle sprain and remained out on Sunday.
He isn’t expected to be out long.
Fellow wideout Corey Davis (illness) was also out, but Saleh believes he will practice Monday.
Saleh thinks running back Breece Hall, working his way back from a torn ACL, is a few weeks away from coming off the PUP list.
Linebacker Kwon Alexander, who started 12 games for the Jets last year, signed with the Steelers on Sunday.
The third starting linebacker spot is a battle between Jamien Sherwood, Zaire Barnes and Hamsah Nasirildeen, according to Saleh.
The coach declined to say if the Jets attempted to bring back Alexander .