Whose spot is in jeopardy heading into the second preseason game?
As preseason continues - and with just four practices of training camp remaining - the roster is taking shape. However, could the events of the last week have changed the thinking of the coaching staff as they prepare for the second preseason game?
A couple of players holding onto starting roles or roster spots had negative plays during the game or in practice during the week. Could tonight see their closest challenger(s) continue to gain ground? Will the coaching staff test those players against starter-level players?
Here's some of the players with something to prove tonight:
Center: Wesley Johnson
In Saturday's game, Johnson was driven off his spot a few times, including on the play where Josh McCown completed a long pass to Robby Anderson:
Are the Jets concerned about Johnson's ability to hold up? Over the past week, second-string center Jonotthan Harrison seems to have received more first-team reps than he was previously in camp. Harrison has started games at center and guard with the Colts in the past, but graded out poorly.
Other than a fumbled snap, Harrison was okay in the Titans game, but that was against back-ups. Will he get an opportunity to show he can anchor the line as well as Johnson while facing starters?
Cornerback: Juston Burris
Burris wasn't really tested in man coverage on Saturday, although he gave up a first down in zone. However, he seems to have given up a few big plays during the past few weeks in practice.
After a fast start to camp, is Burris losing ground? This could be the first insight into the priorities of the coaching staff this year. If they persist with the unknown quantity, then that shows a commitment to developing a young player for a key role. However, if they revert to a more established veteran like Marcus Williams, then maybe their priority early on is to be competitive and they feel more comfortable doing that with "the devil you know".
Perhaps the fastest riser at cornerback is Dexter McDougle, who was having a quiet camp and seemed stuck on the third unit, but then had a big game on Saturday night and seems to have built on that with a big week of practice.
Kicker: Chandler Catanzaro
In the battle for the placekicker role, Catanzaro missed a 55-yard field goal attempt on Saturday night and Ross Martin perhaps took the lead by default as he didn't get any opportunities to kick.
During the week, Martin has continued to out-kick Catanzaro, which has been the case throughout camp. It sounds like he has a bigger leg and he's been more accurate.
However, last year, Martin again kicked well in practice, only to then missed a couple of kicks in preseason, prompting the Jets to stick with Nick Folk. Martin did make a 55-yarder in his final preseason appearance last season but it proved to be too little too late. The job won't be his unless he can kick with consistency in real preseason action.
If both falter, it's not unheard of for a two-man kicking competition to end up with neither kicker on the final roster. That's what happened to the New Orleans Saints in 2014.
Tackle: Brent Qvale
Qvale has been the first-team right tackle since camp opened, even though most people expected Brandon Shell to take the role when he started the last three games of his rookie year and played with more consistency than Qvale ever has in his career so far.
Qvale was perhaps given the role initially due to seniority with the team hoping that Shell will be ready to take over from him. However, they perhaps aren't sold yet on his readiness to do so. It seems the Jets view Qvale as a replacement level player and will give him the starting nod if they're not entirely confident in Shell's ability to outperform him.
Similar to the situation with Harrison and Johnson, the reserve (Shell) had a more consistent performance than the starter (Qvale) last week, but perhaps wouldn't cope as well if he was facing starters.
We won't get any clues from the depth chart on the official website, as it still lists Ben Ijalana - who has been backing up Kelvin Beachum on the left side - as the starting right tackle. However, in practice, Qvale is still getting most of the first team work. Todd Bowles wouldn't rule out a rotation at the position, although he said he'd prefer not to have to do that.
Let us know in the comments if there's anyone else you think might be tested tonight and over the rest of preseason.