Jets' Kenny Yeboah earns game ball after Hail Mary touchdown catch

The New York Jets were down by eight points with six seconds left on the clock in their final preseason game of 2021. 

Backup quarterback James Morgan dropped back to pass and launched a 49-yard pass into the end zone as time expired. Tight end Kenny Yeboah notched the touchdown, and running back Josh Adams took the ball in for the two-point conversion to tie the game at 31. Since there is no overtime in NFL preseason, that ended the contest. 

After the game, first-year head coach Robert Saleh was impressed with his team’s resilience, and gave rookie Yeboah the game ball in an excited locker room. 

Game ball: @Kenny_Yeboah84 🙌 pic.twitter.com/QoxyD2bhlk

— New York Jets (@nyjets) August 28, 2021

“I love the fight, guys,” Saleh said. “I’m being serious. I appreciate that fight. You guys put it all on the line.”

Yeboah had a great night, with four catches on five targets for 100 yards and two touchdowns. Prior to Friday, he had just two receptions for six yards and no scores during the preseason.

The rookie tight end, who is a Pennsylvania native, spent four years at Temple prior to transferring to Ole Miss last season. Yeboah had 47 receptions for 538 yards and six touchdowns for the Owls and had a breakout 2020 with 27 receptions for 524 yards and six touchdowns in Lane Kiffin’s high-powered offense. 

Morgan went 13-for-23 with 158 yards, two touchdowns and an interception on Friday. Rookie Zach Wilson did not play.

Jets have had major injury issues this preseason

The Jets, who went 2-14 last season, took Wilson with the second-overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. Wilson went 15-for-20 for 191 yards and two touchdowns this preseason. 

While Wilson has shined, the Jets’ roster as a whole has dealt with major injury issues. 

Alijah Vera-Tucker, whom the Jets took with the No. 14 overall pick in this year’s draft, has been dealing with a pectoral injury. Former Ole Miss wide receiver and rookie Elijah Moore has a quad injury. 

Defensive lineman Quinnien Williams is back at practice after an offseason foot injury. Williams was a first-round selection in the 2019 NFL Draft. Offensive tackle Mekhi Becton suffered a concussion earlier this week but is expected to be back for the season opener against the Panthers on Sept. 12. 

A couple of other Jets players have not been as lucky with their injuries. Defensive end Carl Lawson, who was a big free agency acquisition for the Jets, is out for the season after rupturing his Achilles in practice a couple of weeks ago. Backup safety Zane Lewis suffered a season-ending knee injury during the same practice.