Two teams with playoff aspirations kick off their 2023 preseasons on Thursday night in the NFL Hall of Fame Game when the New York Jets take on the Cleveland Browns. The Jets come in after a high-profile offseason that netted the team a future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers in a deal they hope will get them back to the Super Bowl for the first time since 1969. The Cleveland Browns begin year two of quarterback DeShaun Watson's tenure and will have the former All-Pro signal-caller available from week one of this season. With expectations high for both squads, this should be an entertaining opener. The opening kickoff is set for 8:00 PM EST.
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It has been a wild offseason for the Jets that has their fanbase thinking championship thoughts for the first time in well over a decade. The main factor is the arrival of 4-time MVP Aaron Rodgers in a deal with the Green Bay Packers. Rodgers gives the Jets the kind of stability at quarterback the team hasn't had since perhaps Joe Namath last donned a Jets jersey. The Jets have added other pieces as well to support Rodgers including wide receivers Allan Lazard, Randall Cobb, and Mecole Hardman Jr. The Jets will also welcome back running back Breece Hall from an ACL injury that sidelined him for much of his rookie season after an outstanding start. The Jets finished 29th in total offense in 2022, a number that should improve with the arrival of Rodgers and his former offensive coordinator, Nathaniel Hackett.
Head coach Robert Saleh has built a solid defense in his two years in New York. The team finished second in the NFL in total defense in 2022 after allowing teams just over 18 points per game. The Jets have a deep and talented defensive line led by Quinnen Williams, a solid linebacker group fronted by middle linebacker C.J. Mosley and a secondary that continues to improve including potential All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner. Last season, the defense was saddled with the burden of keeping the opposition off the board with a low-scoring offense. With Rodgers leading the offense, the Jets' defense will have more room for error this season.
Come fly with us. pic.twitter.com/Q7yOSGIYBr
— New York Jets (@nyjets) August 2, 2023
This will be an interesting preseason for the Jets in 2023. The team will play an extra preseason game because of their participation in the Hall of Fame game. In addition, the Jets are the featured team in this season's series on HBO. This will only add media scrutiny to a Jets team that is already under the microscope with the arrival of Rodgers. The Jets finished just 7-10 in 2022 but most projections have them flipping that record around with the addition of Rodgers. The Jets may be hardpressed to match last season's 3-0 preseason as they work in several new offensive players and a new offensive system under Hackett. Last year, the Jets scored 79 points in three preseason games and outscored the opposition by a total of 15 points. Saleh has already announced that Rodgers will sit out the Hall of Fame game along with all of the team's starters on both sides of the ball. Expect former starter, Zach Wilson, to get a long look at quarterback on Thursda y.
Key Injuries: