There are plenty of Jets players who should benefit from the return of a healthy Aaron Rodgers, but one who has jumped out at OTAs is tight end Tyler Conklin.
Conklin, who is now in his third year with the team, has 119 catches for 1,173 yards and three touchdowns in his first two seasons despite the revolving door at quarterback.
Stability with Rodgers could help Conklin in 2024, which also happens to be a contract year for him.
Conklin said he has been focused this offseason on maximizing his talents.
He also wants to avoid a repeat of last year when he failed to score a touchdown.
“It’s frustrating,” Conklin said. “No one wants to go a whole season without touching the end zone. But it is what it is. There’s nothing I can do about it. But I tell you that I am motivated to not let that happen again.”
Conklin is in the final year of his $20.25 million contract.
At the time, his signing was overshadowed by the acquisition of another free agent tight end, C.J. Uzomah, but Uzomah was cut this offseason, and Conklin has proven to be the better addition.
Even with his production, there has plenty of speculation before the draft that the Jets would take Georgia tight end Brock Bowers.
Conklin said he did not spent too much time focusing on that talk but admitted hearing that people believed tight end was an area of need for the Jets bothered him.
“It’s not something you want to hear, right?” Conklin said. “It’s obviously motivation to go out there and make people change that thought process.”
Coach Robert Saleh has been impressed by new LT Tyron Smith, and not just on the field.
“I was going through the weight room and I saw him repping out over 400 pounds on the bench like it was my 135 rep,” Saleh said. “He’s an impressive man.”
Saleh said the Jets are going to have to protect Smith from himself because he is such a hard worker.
Get the insider's view on Gang Green
Sign up for Inside the Jets by Brian Costello, a weekly Sports+ exclusive.
Thank you
To that end, Smith did not practice Tuesday in what looked like the coaches just giving him a day off.
Offensive line coach Keith Carter took some criticism after the season for his aggressive coaching style.
Carter said he is trying to adjust his style.
“We’ve got to be men of our word,” Carter said. “If we’re asking the players to constantly improve and get better, so do we as coaches. I’m a hard charger. I’m a yeller, even sometimes when I don’t mean to be. I’m focusing on making sure my timing is right and I do it the right way.”
Jets legend Nick Mangold was at practice Tuesday and even took some time to work with second-year center Joe Tippmann during one drill. … Saleh said RB Breece Hall is dealing with “lower-half stuff,” and that is why he is not practicing. … Saleh said DT Javon Kinlaw was present for the early portion of the spring workouts but not in recent weeks.