In the eyes of head coach Robert Saleh, the Jets’ first joint practice against the Panthers ended with the thought — however far-fetched, given preseason expectations for his club — that maybe they haven’t been able to “change the stink” just yet. 

The flashiness of Aaron Rodgers wore off at Wofford College.

Carolina rushers started weaving around the Jets’ offensive line, forcing the veteran quarterback to scramble while passes fell incomplete.

It ate at Saleh while he was walking off the field, too.

After Saleh was seen earlier during Episode 2 of HBO’s “Hard Knocks” telling Panthers coach Frank Reich that the Jets will go as far as their defensive line takes them, later on the show, he echoed a similar phrase about their other line — just with a different connotation. 

“You can have a Hall of Fame quarterback,” Saleh was seen telling the Jets in a meeting. “You can have two $10 million-plus receivers. You can have a reigning offensive rookie of the year. You can have all kinds of skill in the running back room. None of it f–king matters until the big boys up front change who the f–k we are.” 

The dichotomy between the Jets’ two lines became obvious in the episode’s segments concerning their joint practice last week against the Panthers. 

Saleh was seen calling the defensive line the Jets’ “baby.”

Quinnen Williams took a bow after one snap and called himself a “f–king beast” after another.

Before checking if Rodgers was wearing a microphone, Williams claimed he’d already produced 10 sacks that day — prompting the quarterback to hold up 10 fingers for the camera. 

When Williams plunged through the line and reached quarterback Bryce Young again (sacking the Panthers rookie carried over into the preseason game for others on the defensive line, because Williams didn’t play), Rodgers adjusted.

He held up one finger on his left hand and another finger on his right hand. 

“Eleven sacks,” Rodgers said. 

After compiling 12 sacks last year and making the Pro Bowl for the first time, Williams signed a four-year, $96 million contract in July, solidifying his position as a key part of a defensive unit that emerged as one of the league’s best in 2022. 

And during the first two episodes of “Hard Knocks,” Williams has become one of the underrated stars, alongside Rodgers and Saleh — even at one time jokingly drawing the ire of offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, who game the defensive player the middle finger. 

When scuffles and fights broke out at a training camp session before the Jets traveled to Spartanburg, S.C., Williams said that he always enjoys when the tight ends confront the defensive linemen because “some days you need a slap in the mouth.”

He gave Rodgers a shout-out in the first episode, and that extended to his wife, his daughter, his agent and others in the second episode. 

“95’s leading the charge here,” Jets owner Woody Johnson was shown saying of Williams. 

“Joe [Douglas, the general manager] and I would not have advocated to pay him if he wasn’t the type of person he is,” Saleh, standing next to Johnson, replied. 

“It’s a lot of money,” Johnson continued.

But if Williams’ performance against the Panthers in practice translates into the regular season, the price will be worth it. 

The Jets still have some work to do with their offensive line, though.

Even with Rodgers and offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, even with all of the talent scattered throughout their positional rooms.

It appeared that their 27-0 preseason victory over the Panthers might have been a positive development, given their success running the ball with Israel Abanikanda (12 carries, 59 yards).

Rodgers was seen speaking with offensive tackle Mekhi Becton on the sideline, too, and suggested the pair meet for lunch — or something else — during the upcoming week. 

The defensive line has emerged as the Jets’ overarching strength.

But the offensive line could mess everything up.

Saleh didn’t hesitate to inform the Jets about that looming threat, either. 

“Because we will go as you go,” Saleh continued in his speech to the Jets. “We proved last year that we’re a 7-10 football team with a really f–-king good defense and a mediocre offense.

“That’s about what we proved. Flip that f–-king s–-t. We don’t get any more second chances.”