FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- The New York Jets' quarterback competition is well into its third week, and nothing much has changed: Josh McCown and Christian Hackenberg continued to get the majority of the practice reps, leaving scraps for Bryce Petty. McCown remains the favorite to start Week 1.
A breakdown of Wednesday's practice:
JOSH McCOWN
For the first time in a week, McCown tallied more reps than Hackenberg in a practice -- 37 to 28. This was another solid day for McCown (18-for-28), who engineered a 13-play drive -- a rarity in these parts.
Wow moment: McCown culminated the long drive by hitting Robby Anderson on a short post route in the back of the end zone. This was a fantastic day for Anderson, who scored two touchdowns and made a highlight-film catch. He has raised his level of play since the season-ending injury to Quincy Enunwa. They need two or three others wide receivers to do the same.
Whoa moment: On his final play, in a red zone period, McCown was intercepted by rookie safety Marcus Maye. It was McCown's fourth interception of training camp. I'll cut him some slack because it was a fourth-down, must-have situation, and he had to make the throw.
CHRISTIAN HACKENBERG
It was a frustrating start for Hackenberg, through no fault of his own. His first pass was dropped by Charone Peake. His second pass was a perfectly-lofted, deep sideline throw to Jalin Marshall. He, too, dropped the ball. Such is life when you're a Jets quarterback. Hackenberg was 10-for-19, with a touchdown and an interception.
Wow moment: Hackenberg got into the end zone once, firing a short pass to tight end Chris Gragg in a red zone period. As Bill Parcells used to say, the quarterback's job is to get his team into the end zone. Hackenberg didn't do that in the preseason opener -- eight possessions, no points. Obviously, that will be goal No. 1 in the second game.
Whoa moment: He got a bit rattled on back-to-back plays late in practice, taking a sack and throwing an interception (his fifth of camp). He was an intermediate-length throw that was picked off by cornerback Dexter McDougle.
BRYCE PETTY
Say this for Petty: He doesn't get a lot of chances, but he always seems to do something memorable -- sometimes good, sometimes bad. He got only 13 reps, hitting seven of 11 passes, with a touchdown.
Wow moment: Reading man-to-man coverage on the outside, Petty went to Anderson on a deep sideline route. Anderson made a terrfic, one-handed catch, but it still was an impressive throw. The only negative: If it had been a full-contact drill, Anderson would've been blown up by the safety over the top.
Whoa moment: No major hiccups.