Adding Davante Adams has Jets owner Woody Johnson downright cocky.
“Salvageable? We’re going to kick … you can fill the word in,” Johnson said when asked Tuesday if the season could still be saved, per NFL Network.
Johnson is bullish on his team’s chances despite being a three-game losing streak leaving them at 2-4 after seeing some positives in Monday’s 23-20 home loss to the Bills and acquiring Adams to pair with his quarterback pal, Aaron Rodgers.
The Jets sent a conditional third-round pick that can become a second-round selection to Las Vegas in exchange for the 31-year-old.
“I am doing absolutely everything,” Johnson said of the steps he’s taking to ensure success in this critical season, according to Sports Illustrated. “Everything.”
The 2024 season began with championship aspirations but the Jets have looked more like pretenders than contenders through six weeks.
Adding Adams marks the second huge change Johnson approved as of late in hopes of galvanizing the team.
The Jets fired head coach Robert Saleh last Tuesday, two days after the team’s Week 5 loss to the Vikings in London. Defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich was then named the interim head coach.
Follow the latest on the New York Jets’ trade for star receiver Davante Adams:
- Davante Adams traded to Jets in blockbuster reunion with Aaron Rodgers
- Davante Adams makes surprise ‘Pat McAfee Show’ appearance as Aaron Rodgers reacts to bombshell Jets trade
- Davante Adams reacts to colossal Jets trade with cryptic Instagram post
- Davante Adams took red-eye flight to NJ as Jets finalized trade
- Aaron Rodgers lacking fourth-quarter magic as Davante Adams joins Jets
News of the Adams trade broke a week later, with Gang Green adding a top receiver to bolster an offense that is starting to show signs of life.
Johnson did not outright say that Rodgers pushed for the team to acquire his former Packer running mate, but the owner added “anybody would be interested.”
“I think he adds to the running game. He opens up everything, particularly having that relationship with the quarterback. That’s very important,” Johnson said of Adams. “You could see it [Monday] night. It takes a while for a quarterback, you could see [wide receiver] Garrett [Wilson] is finally getting that and he played a good game, much better than the week before and next week will be better.”
Johnson noted that he wants the Jets to “bring a lot of change” for Sunday’s prime-time matchup against the Steelers and is not focused on the team’s slow start.
Monday’s loss makes the road more daunting toward an AFC East crown, but the path to a playoff spot is still accessible this early in the season.
“Thinking is overrated. You have to look forward. We have to look forward to the games we’re going to play each and every week and try to win all of them, that’s basic stuff,” Johnson said at the NFL owners meetings in Atlanta. “‘Talladega Nights.’ Remember that one scene he said, ‘You’re not a thinker, you’re a driver.’ Right? A lot of times it is, you have to go with your instincts and what’s the best thing to build a team and build a winning team and most importantly build a culture. A culture of winning. I think based on what I saw yesterday, I think we’re starting in a new and exciting direction.”
That new and exciting direction could include a more dynamic offense after running back Breece Hall provided a strong effort Monday and Wilson turned in another 100-yard effort.
Adding Adams should, in theory, make life easier for the Jets’ other stars.
Johnson also believes in Ulbrich, saying he’s “authentic” and has “instant credibility.”
“I liked moving the ball. I liked much more efficient passing,” Johnson said of Monday’s game. “I just didn’t like the penalties, particularly the penalties at absolutely the wrong time. The holding penalties and all this. It’s only been a week, less than a week, so I expect all those things to improve pretty dramatically.”