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The Jets' 6-2 finish has given the franchise a renewed sense of hope, even though GM Joe Douglas didn't want to use that word. Hope, he said, is "not a strategy." The only way they can really capitalize on their strong finish is with a plan.

And they'll need a good one, too, because while Douglas is right that "Going 6-2, that's not luck," it's also not the sign of a finished product. The Jets were a disappointing 7-9 overall this season and did not look like a franchise on the verge of a long-awaited breakthrough. They have big, gaping holes throughout their roster.

So there is a lot of work still to do.

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The saddest thing about the current state of the Jets is that this was supposed to be the year they arrived. After nine years of waiting for a playoff game, after enduring three years of rebuilding under ex-GM Mike Maccagnan, it was all supposed to come together in 2019.

Not only didn't that happen, but now the Jets appear to be on the brink of a rebuilding project again.

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The Giants and Jets are a combined 3-14, one year after going a combined 9-23, one year after going a combined 8-24. That's a 20-61 record over the last 2 ½ seasons, for a "winning" percentage of .246.

So no, the Giants and Jets don't match up particularly well with the rest of the professional football world right now. But how do they match up with each other?

In advance of their big showdown on Sunday at the Meadowlands, let's take a look:

Ralph Vacchiano | Facebook | Twitter | Archive

The Giants and Jets are a combined 3-14, one year after going a combined 9-23, one year after going a combined 8-24. That's a 20-61 record over the last 2 ½ seasons, for a "winning" percentage of .246.

So no, the Giants and Jets don't match up particularly well with the rest of the professional football world right now. But how do they match up with each other?

In advance of their big showdown on Sunday at the Meadowlands, let's take a look:

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The Jets' fanbase is furious, if not outright disgusted. The frustration is building inside the Jets organization, too. They are now 1-7 in what they thought would be their first playoff season in nearly a decade, and they just lost to a team that might very well be trying to lose.

Given all those extremes, it's impossible to say for sure that Adam Gase won't be one-and-done as the Jets' head coach. When the losses pile up, fans revolt, and the wheels begin to come off, anything is possible.

The injury issues that have surrounded C.J. Mosley since Week 1 continued Wednesday at One Jets Drive, when Adam Gase said Mosley's injury could be more involved than initially thought.

The tests are continuing, Gase explained. 

"Doctors are doing a really deep dive just trying to figure out where things are coming from," he said. "Might just be more than the groin. We're just trying to figure all that stuff out."

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With the Jets on their bye week, we're going to review some of the Jets players, looking in detail at their season so far and what to expect from them coming out of the bye week. We'll look at some players who've exceeded expectations and others that have been disappointing so far. We begin with a look at rookie linebacker Blake Cashman.

Expectations prior to the season

When Cashman was drafted in the fifth round back in April, the Jets still had both Darron Lee and Avery Williamson in addition to new addition CJ Mosley, so Cashman wasn't expected to have a major role on defense. Nevertheless, it seemed like a shrewd pick to draft the promising former Minnesota Golden Gopher, who had outstanding special teams production in college and the potential to be a future starter.

Jets fans, remember the name Blake Cashman. You should be seeing a lot of him this season. 

As the team's fifth-round draft pick this year, that wasn't supposed to be the case. But Avery Williamson's torn ACL is forcing the linebacker to step up in his rookie season. 

On the depth chart, Neville Hewitt is the other first-team inside linebacker that will stand next to C.J. Mosley to start Week 1 against the Bills at home. But Cashman should see his reps as the game goes along, and he's certainly earned them. 

The Jets rounded out their 2019 preseason schedule with a 6-0 win over the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday night at MetLife Stadium.

Here are some of the key takeaways from Thursday's finale:

- Trevor Siemian got the start for the Jets at quarterback with Sam Darnold not suiting up. He played just one drive, though, that ended without points. With Luke Falk and Davis Webb potentially battling for a third quarterback spot (if the Jets elect to keep three on the active roster), it was Falk who got the call first. Falk played the remainder of the first half, going 13-for-18 for 91 yards. He certainly didn't make any awe-inspiring plays, but he didn't turn the ball over or make any poor mistakes either.

With the Texans having made linebacker Jadeveon Clowney available, the Jets are one of five teams who have spoken with them about a potential trade, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. 

Aside from the Jets, the Texans have also talked about Clowney with the Dolphins, Seahawks, Eagles, and Redskins, reports Wilson, who says nothing has advanced yet with any of those teams.

While Clowney has been given permission to meet with the Dolphins, he is hesitant to play for Miami since he doesn't view them as a contender, reports Wilson.

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Only a select few starters will suit up for the Jets against the Eagles on Thursday night - and those are probably ones who have yet to play much this summer.

For everyone else, including quarterback Sam Darnold, the preseason is over. For some, like running back Le'Veon Bell, it never really began.

Jets LB Brandon Copeland was suspended on Wednesday for the first four games of the regular season in the latest hit to a Gang Green defense that recently lost Avery Williamson for the season.

Copeland, who will be eligible to return on Oct. 13 against the Cowboys, took to Instagram late Wednesday afternoon to explain what led to his suspension.

"I spent the better part of 28 years building and working on my legacy," Copeland wrote. "This offseason, I began taking a supplement AFTER multiple verifications that it was safe for me to use. Unfortunately, this supplement was contaminated with a banned substance -- NOT on its label. Regardless of the reason, League policy says I am responsible for what is in my body."

Just as the Jets lose a linebacker to injury, another one won't be present to start the season for a different reason. 

The Jets announced Wednesday that LB Brandon Copeland has been suspended for the first four games of the season after violating the league's performance-enhancing drug policy. 

Copeland, 28, played in all 16 games for the Jets in his first season with the team in 2018. He totaled five sacks, 35 combined tackles -- eight for loss -- 14 quarterback hits, and two passes defended. 

Jets RB Le'Veon Bell won't play until Week 1 of the regular season against the Bills, but he said on Wednesday that he doesn't think there will be any negative impact to not playing during the preseason -- even after sitting out all of 2018.

"I don't think me getting four plays in the preseason is gonna help me in Week 1 for the game," Bell said. "It's gonna be me just getting ready for playing and practice. When the game comes, then I'll be ready."

Bell said that his teammates will be aggressive with him in practice and go after the ball in order to help him get ready for game situations, adding that he just wants to "go out there and show everyone I'm the same player."

The Jets unfortunately lost LB Avery Williamson for the season after he suffered a torn ACL against the Falcons in preseason Week 2. But GM Joe Douglas was quick to fill his roster slot on Tuesday. 

The Jets announced the signing of LB Stephone Anthony, a four-year NFL vet and former first round pick back in 2015. 

Spending the past two seasons with the Dolphins, Anthony has Jets ties with head coach Adam Gase at the top of that list. Having played with the Saints for his first two seasons, he also knows linebackers coach Joe Vitt. 

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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - The Chicago Bears didn't play a single starter against the Giants on Friday night and Mitch Trubisky and Khalil Mack probably won't play this preseason at all. It's the same in L.A., with Jared Goff and Todd Gurley. Saquon Barkley probably won't play this summer either, and Le'Veon Bell has already been ruled out.

A decade ago - less, even - such a mass sit-out would have been unthinkable in the preseason. Players played in increasing amounts in at least the first three games. Coaches felt they had to, in order to get ready for the regular season.

So what happened?

Jets head coach Adam Gase had a simple, three-word response when asked if he regretted leaving in Avery Williamson as long as he did in Thursday's preseason win over the Falcons.

"Yes, I do."

The Jets have added a new linebacker following Avery Williamson's season-ending torn ACL.

The team announced on Saturday afternoon that they have signed veteran Albert McClellan and placed Williamson on Injured Reserve.

A 33-year-old out of Marshall, McClellan played his first six seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, before splitting time last season with the Ravens and New England Patriots. 

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The most important thing for every NFL team in every preseason game is to simply come out of it with their starting lineup intact. Whatever the starters get out of a few meaningless snaps is rarely worth the risk of a devastating injury.

The Jets and linebacker Avery Williamson were just reminded of that in the worst way possible, thanks to the worst decision of Adam Gase's short Jets career.

The Jets suffered a huge blow on Friday when their worst fears were confirmed - that Williamson suffered a torn ACL in the Jets' 22-10 win in Atlanta on Thursday night. And the insult to the injury is that it was truly meaningless and could have - should have - been avoided. The 27-year-old was injured with 3:52 left in the first half, long after all the other Jets defensive starters had departed.

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New Jets defensive coordinator Gregg Williams said this week that he hasn't really started bringing the pressure with his play-calls yet.

All that changed on Thursday night.

Actually, it didn't matter because he was getting plenty of pressure from his defensive line, but Williams turned up the heat in the second game of the preseason. The Jets were all over Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan in a 22-10 win in Atlanta. They sacked him three times on the 17 times he dropped back to pass, and pressured him on almost every other pass. He was still 10 of 14 for 118 yards thanks to his talent and a porous Jets secondary. But by the time he left, one thing was clear:

The Jets received a big blow to their defense on Friday as linebacker Avery Williamson has suffered a torn ACL. SNY's Ralph Vacchiano confirmed NFL Network's Ian Rapoport's first report on the injury. Williamson will miss the entire 2019 season. 

Williamson was curiously left in Thursday's preseason contest against the Falcons for an extended amount of time when he sustained the injury. 

Williamson went down on the field with approximately four minutes left in the first half while in coverage on a passing play. The Jets brought in a new defensive coordinator this offseason in Gregg Williams and Williamson was tabbed as the defensive play-caller on the field. 

The Jets' hottest new commodity in Le'Veon Bell is still getting acclimated to his new team. He was absent from most of the team's offseason voluntary workouts as he continued his routine of working out in Miami to prepare for the new season. 

But, since Bell has been at training camp for the past few weeks, his new Jets teammates are learning what the dynamic running back is like on and off the field. 

In between the hashes, Bell is the exact same player that he was when we last saw him: a patient yet explosive back that knows how to read defenses and make his opponents miss. He didn't show that against the Giants in preseason Week 1 as he sat out, but there have been spurts at practice where he's shown his mastery with the ball in his hands. 

The Jets defense will have a new look in 2019 as Gregg Williams brings his complex system to the team as their new defensive coordinator. 

While early in offseason workouts, both sides of the ball are already liking what they're seeing from the unit. 

CJ Mosley said the unit has a new "culture" to it while Avery Williamson added that it's been challenging learning the scheme, but he wouldn't have it any other way.

If the whole football thing doesn't work out for Jets LB Avery Williamson, I think he might have found an alternative. 

SNY's Jeane Coakley was on hand with Williamson at a sushi restaurant in the city to see how well he would do as a sushi chef. 

After making his own rolls, Williamson was very pleased with the result. And, of course, he's liking how the offseason has gone thus far with the Jets...

Avery Williamson's tenure with the Jets got off to a solid start in 2018, but could a career in sports broadcasting be in his future?

The Jets linebacker recently stopped by the SNY Studios and learned all the ins and outs of the business. Watch as he goes over his shot sheets, stops by the makeup room, and makes his way to the SNY desk.

Jets camp is in full swing, and there's a buzz in the Florham Park air. There's a new head coach, a new GM, and lots of fresh faces on the field.

Which players have the potential to be unheralded X-factors for the Jets this year? Here's five guys who have stood out so far.

Jonotthan Harrison (C)

Harrison is a familiar face after starting nine games over the last two years, but there was some thought that the Jets may pursue an upgrade at center this offseason. Instead, they stuck with Harrison, and the results are paying off.

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Earlier this offseason, we speculated on how the defensive players on the Jets roster would fit into new defensive coordinator Gregg Williams' system. Let's now consider how the players brought in via free agency and the draft will fit.

Defensive Line

Jets linebacker Avery Williamson visited with SNY's Jeané Coakley to discuss the new coaching staff, C.J. Mosley's arrival on defense, and how he's feeling following OTAs.

Williamson told Coakley that the communication on defense, in an effort led by new defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, has been solid, especially for a new coaching staff. 

Williams is not afraid to call out those who aren't giving max effort at all times, Williamson said. 

Jets players seem to love the team's selection of defensive tackle Quinnen Williams at No. 3 overall.

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Marquee free-agent signing Le'Veon Bell tweeted, "Welcome to the Fam @QuinnenWilliams Let's Get It."

A week from today, the Jets will have the No. 3 pick heading into Nashville for the 2019 NFL Draft. And GM Mike Maccagnan is expected to take one of the top defensive playmakers in the draft -- if he doesn't trade down of course. 

Players like Josh Allen and Nick Bosa are at the top of the pack among prospects. There is also Quinnen Williams, a defensive tackle out of Alabama, that the Jets could consider at 3. 

Jets DE Leonard Williams has seen Williams in action during his offseason training in California, and admitted the kid is "a freak."

Safety Jamal Adams was one of the key Jets players who recruited running back Le'Veon Bell to New York.

Turns out, he also had a role in bringing linebacker C.J. Mosley to the Meadowlands as well.

"Obviously he's a tremendous player, I was excited to get him," Adams said, according to newyorkjets.com. "I kind of recruited him at the Pro Bowl. I didn't think they'd get rid of him, no one did. He came to us and I can't tell you how excited I am."

Free agent DT Ndamukong Suh raised some eyebrows on Monday when he posted a video to his Twitter account of him passing MetLife Stadium. Being a free agent, Suh passing the home of the Jets and Giants would understandably spark some conversation. 

However, he said it was merely an April Fool's joke as he was "in NYC for business meetings."

CLICK BELOW TO SEE THE VIDEO

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PHOENIX -- As Jets GM Mike Maccagnan sat in a conference room when he spoke to reporters on Monday afternoon, he wasn't standing under a banner that read "Mission Accomplished." He knows he still has work to do to turn the Jets into playoff contenders.

But this offseason, Maccagnan made it pretty clear that he did what he set out to do.

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While the Le'Veon Bell signing received the most attention, the biggest financial outlay for the Jets this offseason was the C.J. Mosley deal. The former Baltimore Ravens linebacker signed a five-year contract worth up to $85 million. Will it prove to be worth it though?

There's no doubting Mosley's talent, as he's been a Pro Bowler and second-team All-Pro in four of his five seasons. The Ravens went to the postseason twice in those five years with Mosley anchoring their defense, including an AFC North division title win in 2018. He has nine interceptions, six forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries in his career, so he should provide some impact plays.

The Jets are most likely to employ Mosley as the middle linebacker in Gregg Williams' new system. In fact, there's a good chance Williams may have identified Mosley as an ideal central cog to install his scheme around. Ideally, he would have had Anthony Barr as well, but that move obviously fell apart at the 11th hour. Another clue as to how important the Jets saw having a player of Mosley's caliber on the team comes from the size of his contract.

The Jets have won the Le'Veon Bell sweepstakes, as the top free agent has reportedly agreed to a four-year, $52.5 million deal, first reported by ESPN's Adam Schefter. 

Bell's deal has a max value of $61 million with incentives, and he will receive $35 million in guaranteed money. The 27-year-old confirmed the move on Twitter right around midnight and posted to his Instagram with his new green and white threads. He also made sure to mention his new mixtape "Life's A Gamble..."

CLICK BELOW TO SEE BELL'S TWEET AND MORE

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With the exception of a couple of vague tweets heard 'round the NFL, Le'Veon Bell was one of the quietest free agents in the league on Monday. If the Jets were looking to make some noise by signing the NFL's No. 1 free agent, it looks like they're going to have to wait.

For the moment, as multiple NFL sources told SNY, the Jets are believed to be the favorite to land the 27-year-old running back. But the truth is, only Bell knows for sure for whom he will toll. He said on Twitter he had more than two teams to choose from. The Jets, 49ers, Eagles, Raiders, Dolphins and Bears had all been mentioned as possible destinations.

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Over the next month or so, we're going to review some of the top draft prospects at each position to assess some potential candidates in whom the Jets may show interest. We continue with a look at the 2019 linebacker class.

Jets needs: Linebackers

While there will be a defensive shake-up with Gregg Williams bringing in a new system as the Jets' new defensive coordinator, it may not end up affecting the linebackers as much as initially perceived. Avery Williamson and Darron Lee each basically had a full-time role in 2018, and that is likely to continue in 2019.

Jets linebackers Darron Lee and Avery Williamson have cemented their status as "Best Football Friends."

In a video posted Thursday, the NFL buddies took on Bleacher Report's Chris Simms and Adam Lefkoe in a friendly game of "BFF Challenge."

Since the showdown was held on the network's turf, Lee and Williamson played as the away team, but they threw any home-field advantage out the window despite hilariously struggling through parts of the challenge.

The Jets had a boatload of cap space as well as the No. 3 overall draft pick to work with this offseason. And LB Darron Lee thinks the moves made using those resources have looked good thus far.

The most notable of the acquisitions made by GM Mike Maccagnan include CB Trumaine Johnson, LB Avery Williamson, and first-round draft pick QB Sam Darnold. These three players are the crucial chess pieces Lee thinks will help them now and in the future.

"This is a game of chess, not checkers," Lee told Jets.com's Eric Allen. "Adding those important pieces like Tru, Avery, and Sam is huge. It has us going in the right direction in my opinion, but implementing those guys in our brotherhood and our standard in what we have here is huge. Seeing how they're abiding by it also and they're jelling in smoothly with it -- it makes you excited. It can't help but make you excited because they're buying in."