The NY Jets rested virtually their entire starting lineup for Saturday’s season opener against the Washington Commanders. A total of 28 players, including 21 of the 22 regulars, sat on the sidelines and watched – all except center Joe Tippmann.
The Jets decided to give Tippmann a few starts in the first preseason game, not necessarily because his job is on the line, but rather because they wanted to give the second-year center some extra time after his shaky performance this summer.
Tippmann has struggled with snapping issues in training camp. The Wisconsin product’s high snapping has become a serious problem for the Jets, so much so that they decided he needed additional practice on Saturday.
The good news is that Tippmann’s snap placement was not an issue against the Commanders. The 2023 second-round pick seems confident that his snap issues are officially behind him.
Tippmann spoke to reporters after Saturday’s preseason win and acknowledged he’s had to work through some issues this summer. Jets head coach Robert Saleh said the team has asked him to do new things to maximize his athleticism and he’s still working out the technical details of the change.
Saturday’s preseason game was a major step in the right direction for the young center. Tippmann’s snapping issues were one of the most notable stories to come out of Jets training camp this summer, and a flawless performance in a live game was desperately needed.
The Jets are counting on Tippmann to form a much improved offensive line in 2024. The 23-year-old performed well down the stretch last season and will now have the opportunity to play alongside an improved supporting cast and a future Hall of Fame quarterback.
Tippmann’s snapping issues date back to his first summer with the Jets. Since he wasn’t the front-line center, it went unnoticed, but Tippmann quietly had some issues snapping the ball during 2023 training camp.
His snap placement improved as the season went on, but it was still a noticeable issue at times. Tippmann comes from a Wisconsin scheme that didn’t require him to snap much from the shotgun, so teething issues were to be expected.
Combine that with the technical changes the Jets are asking him to make, and it’s no surprise he’s encountered some difficulties. But after Saturday’s game, the Jets hope those problems are a thing of the past.
Joe Tippmann was as good as you could hope for on Saturday, which is exactly what the Jets wanted to see.
