The New York Jets will take the field in their second preseason game Monday night as they will host the Atlanta Falcons.

Ahead of the matchup, the Jets and Falcons had two hard-hitting practices against each other. Many teams have scheduled joint practices throughout the preseason because it is a better evaluation tool than the games leading up to the regular season.

Many starters didn’t play in the Jets first preseason game, and there’s a chance they won’t see the field Monday after the two joint practices.

“We are trying to get continued growth, especially from our young guys,” Jets coach Robert Saleh said. “We want to figure out who we got when you look at the 40 to 53 part of the roster.

“We are looking for continued growth in terms of communication offensively and defensively. We are just looking for growth play in and play out.”

Here are the five players worth keeping an eye on during Monday night’s game.

Joe Flacco

While the Jets won their first preseason contest against the Philadelphia Eagles, it came at the expense of losing starting quarterback Zach Wilson for a while.

Wilson suffered a bone bruise and a meniscus tear and will be out at least two to four weeks. Fortunately for the Jets, they have an experienced backup quarterback in Flacco, who has won a lot of significant games in this league.

It’s unknown when Wilson will return, so it’s essential for Flacco to get some preseason reps during game action, especially since Flacco didn’t play against the Eagles last week.

Saleh said he doesn’t think Flacco needs the preseason snaps, but everyone can always use it.

“I think everyone could always use it as a reminder of how to get yourself prepared and making sure every game is just another game,” Saleh said.

Throughout training camp, Flacco has looked sharp as he’s been accurate on his short to intermediate passes to receivers. This game against the Falcons and the preseason finale against the Giants will be a chance to fine-tune some areas just in case Flacco is the Week 1 starter against the Baltimore Ravens.

Denzel Mims

Mims is currently fighting for a spot on the Jets roster. While Mims has flashed during the first three weeks of training camp, he had a poor showing against the Eagles.

Mims caught two passes for 25 yards, but he also dropped a pass and was flagged for an illegal formation on a first down play. If he is going to find a way onto the Jets roster, Mims will need to carry over his play from training camp practices to the actual game.

Carl Lawson

A year after rupturing his Achilles tendon during training camp, defensive end Carl Lawson is scheduled to make his return to the field against the Falcons.

Even if it’s for limited snaps, getting a presence like Lawson back is huge for the Jets defensive line. Gang Green ranked 26th in the NFL in sacks (33).

Lawson probably won’t play much against the Falcons, but him returning to the field and getting game action after that Achilles injury would be a positive with the regular season three weeks away.

Michael Clemons

During the second half against the Eagles, Clemons made his presence known. He recorded a sack and generated seven pressures.

According to Pro Football Focus, Clemons tied for the most pressures among all defenders from Week 1 of the preseason. When asked about his performance against the Eagles, Clemons said he wasn’t pleased.

“As a player, I have a lot to work on,” Clemons said. “I try to show up every single day and get out here and be a little bit better.

“It is a credit to my coaches and my teammates for helping me out since I’ve been here and putting me in positions to be successful. I’m nowhere near where I need to be.”

The Jets have a deep and talented defensive line. If the game against the Eagles is any indication, Clemons could potentially be a fourth-round steal for the Jets. He has also flashed during practices, including against the Falcons, where he generated multiple pressures.

Zonovan Knight

Knight rushed for six carries for 13 yards, however, his most significant play came when the Jets were down late in the fourth quarter.

Knight recorded a 52-yard kickoff return. That later set up a game Chris Streverler’s game-winning five-yard touchdown pass to Calvin Jackson.

The Jets running back room is deep with Michael Carter, Breece Hall, Tevin Coleman and Lamical Perine, who rushed for 51 yards against the Eagles. Knight could potentially make a case for a spot on the 53-man roster with another strong showing.

()