Two Undrafted Second-Year Jets Ascending

RB Bam Knight and FS Tony Adams showing potential early in training camp

Last summer, they were just fighting for a chance at a roster spot. 

This summer, they are battling for significant roles on a New York Jets team that carries Super Bowl expectations.

After going undrafted in 2022, running back Zonovan Knight and safety Tony Adams inked free-agent rookie deals with Gang Green and proceeded to ball out during the NFL Preseason. 

Knight stood out during a preseason win over the Philadelphia Eagles, recording a 52-yard kickoff return and a two-yard touchdown rush. The NC State product, who averaged 5.45 yards per carry in college, survived the final round of cuts on August 30, but was released and, subsequently, assigned to the Practice Squad prior to the start of the regular season. He eventually got called up to the active 53-man roster in Week 8.

Adams, who was blessed with a 41.5-inch vertical jump and sub-4.5-second 40-yard dash speed, made the Week 1 roster and appeared in the first four games as a special teamer. The Illinois product was a gameday inactive for six weeks during the middle of the season, but he saw the field again in December and proceeded to earn defensive snaps moving forward.

In training camp as second-year pros, Knight and Adams have taken significant reps during the Jets' four non-padded practices thus far.

With Breece Hall kicking camp off on the PUP list, Knight and third-year pro Michael Carter are splitting running back practice duties. The Jets need to identify a reliable backup for Hall, who may not be ready for a full workload by Week 1, and Knight is battling to be that guy.

"Michael Carter and Bam Knight, the guys that we have in that room, we’re really excited about the guys that we have," said head coach Robert Saleh early in the offseason.

Carter led the team with 114 rush attempts in 2022, but Knight's emergence cut into that work share during the second half of the season. 

Affectionately nicknamed "Bam," Knight burst onto the scene by gaining 100+ scrimmage yards in each of his first two pro appearances. The 5-foot-11 bruiser totaled 103 yards on 17 touches in his NFL debut — a 31-10 win over the Bears on November 27, 2022. He totaled 230 yards rushing from Week 12 through 14, but his efficiency dropped steeply after the initial success.

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Knight looked sharp during Sunday's practice session, which was open to spectators. Although one can only learn so much from watching football players in "pajamas," the sophomore running back shook free up the middle for a nice run during team competition. On the other hand, Carter made one notable miscue when linebacker Jamien Sherwood poked the ball free early in the day.

When veteran Chuck Clark suffered a season-ending injury last month, the starting free safety spot was vacated. The Jets subsequently signed eight-year veteran Adrian Amos off the free-agent market, but Clark's replacement may have already been on the roster.

"Truthfully, you can say the next best person might be on the team already in Tony Adams — a guy who we all have confidence in. A guy who's played great football the little opportunity he's got. Showed up in camp every single day," said veteran defensive end John Franklin-Myers following Sunday's practice.

Adams is unquestionably a legit contender for the starting free safety job and may be playing his way to the front of the line. 

we see ya, @Iwill_suceed20 🔒 pic.twitter.com/P0l2pGKt4r

— New York Jets (@nyjets) July 21, 2023

The former college cornerback-turned-safety displayed good range in pass coverage on Sunday. Two days earlier, Adams got over to the sideline in time to knock away an Aaron Rodgers deep ball intended for Mecole Hardman.

"He’s doing a good job. He’s in a good competition at that safety spot, he wants that starting job just like the other three do," said Saleh on Friday. "He’s showing up good, but again, he’s running around in pajamas, so we’ll see when the pads come on."

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