CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — New York Jets returner Brandon Codrington may have been one of the smallest players on the field Saturday night, but that didn’t stop him from making a huge impact.
The 5’9″, 185lb undrafted rookie from small club North Carolina Central returned a kickoff for 63 yards and a punt for 31 yards, setting up points. The Jets beat the Carolina Panthers 15-12 on Saturday night in a game in which both teams rested almost all of their regular players and several key substitutes.
Austin Seibert kicked four field goals, including a 52-yarder, and Greg Zuerlein scored another for the Jets.
“I’m still trying to make the team,” said Codrington, who grew up in Raleigh cheering for the Panthers. “I think this definitely helps me make it or at least make another team. Because right now I’m trying for all 32.”
Codrington’s 63-yard kickoff return early in the second half came under the NFL’s new kickoff rules and broke through the first line of defense before being caught from behind.
He later caught a punt near the right sideline, turned around the field and evaded tacklers before making a big play.
His efforts caught the attention of Jets coach Robert Saleh.
“He definitely took advantage of his opportunity,” Saleh said. “I think he was the most productive player for both teams. He set up a couple of scoring drives. But that’s what he’s here for. We brought him in for his return ability and I think he did a really good job.”
The Jets’ Aaron Rodgers and the Panthers’ Bryce Young sat out after both got a lot of snaps during a joint practice Thursday that was heated at times. The key backup QBs — New York’s Tyrod Taylor and Carolina’s Andy Dalton — also sat out.
So the sparse crowd at Bank of America Stadium got a long look at two rookies who started as quarterbacks: Andrew Peasley for the Jets and Jack Plummer for the Panthers. And both had problems.
Peasley played the entire first half, completing 7 of 11 passes for 33 yards and being sacked once. His fourth drive was his best, taking the Jets 49 yards in 17 plays and allowing Zuerlein to make a 36-yard field goal to tie the game 3-3 before halftime.
Adrian Martinez, the UFL MVP last season, played the second half for the Jets, overcoming an interception that led to Eddy Pineiro’s second field goal before leading three scoring drives.
“We just wanted to take a good look at the rookies and we’ll probably change that next week,” Saleh said. “But one thing is for sure: The game isn’t too big for either of them. I think they showed good playmaking skills with their feet and Martinez showed he can break the schedule and throw with accuracy.”
Plummer played for Carolina into the fourth quarter and was held to 42 yards on 11 of 18 passing. His best play came on a third-and-27 when he managed to shake off a Jets defender who was overpowering him to avoid a 10-yard loss and pushed the ball forward to Dillon Johnson, who scored a 5-yard gain.
Carolina running back Dillon Johnson scored the game’s only touchdown on a short run on the final play after the Panthers focused on the running game despite a nine-point deficit.
“We just wanted to give our guys a chance to feel what it feels like to run the ball late in the game,” Panthers coach Dave Canales said. “In our minds, we imagine that four-minute world and ask ourselves, ‘Can we finish with the ball?'”
Canales did not comment on whether Young would play in the final game of the season after sitting out the first two preseason games. He said it could depend on how many other starters are healthy because ideally he wants the entire first unit to be healthy and able to play together.
SIT OUT
The Panthers gave 38 players a break, the Jets 32.
INJURIES
Jets: CB Jarrick Bernard-Converse (groin) and WR Irvin Charles (hip) left the field in the first half and did not return.
Panthers: CB Anthony Brown (thumb) and LB Tae Davis (foot) left the field in the second half and did not return.
Next
Jets: Host the New York Giants next Saturday.
Panthers: Next Saturday in Buffalo.
___
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
