The Jets‘ offense all through coaching camp has been hit and miss.
This week in opposition to the Giants, the Jets’ efficiency was the latter, whether or not it was throughout practices or the precise sport.
Gang Inexperienced misplaced to Huge Blue within the annual Snoopy Bowl 31-12, however the outcomes in the course of the preseason are non-consequential. What is important is what stood out, the nice and unhealthy, when it got here to the Jets.
Listed below are this week’s takeaways from the Jets’ second preseason sport.
FIELDS & PASS OFFENSE STILL A WORK IN PROGRESS
Justin Fields and the Jets’ first-team offense got here out after only one sequence of their preseason victory in opposition to the Packers final week. Whereas they have been capable of finding the tip zone early in Inexperienced Bay, that was removed from the case in opposition to the Giants.
Fields accomplished simply 1-of-5 passes for 4 yards, along with his solely completion coming to rookie tight finish Mason Taylor on the primary drive. After his move to Taylor, Fields had three straight incompletions earlier than the Jets needed to punt and squandered good subject place. He handed one time on his second and remaining drive, which featured 9 designed working performs and two move performs, one among which Fields scrambled for 5 yards.
All through the summer time, Fields has had an uneven coaching camp. He has struggled at instances with accuracy points and holding onto the ball too lengthy. It has additionally been famous that Fields seems hesitant to throw the ball down the sphere.
In opposition to the Packers, Fields was decisive after taking what the protection gave him, finishing 3-of-4 passes and dashing for a landing. He displayed none of these attributes in opposition to the Giants, who characteristic a vaunted move rush.
Fields completed with extra dashing yards (5) than he did passing. When the Jets signed Fields to a two-year, $40 million contract in March, head coach Aaron Glenn stated they wished him to “play quarterback” and would construct an offense round his abilities, together with using his distinctive working capability. However the outcomes have been blended so far.
“I think it’s up and down, alright, and there’s been a lot of ups in camp that I really like,” Glenn stated concerning the passing sport. “Today was not one of those days, which was obvious, but listen, I still have a lot of confidence in what those guys can do because they’ve shown it to me. Once you show it, I feel like you can continue to do it, so we just got to go back to work next week and continue to hone in on those areas where we got to just be better at.”
Fields struggled in each joint practices in opposition to the Giants after he was sacked a mixed eight instances in two days. He’s nonetheless studying offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand’s system and attempting to achieve chemistry along with his teammates. With the common season opener in opposition to the Steelers in three weeks, the Jets should hope Fields’ play will likely be higher within the group’s preseason finale in opposition to the Eagles subsequent Friday.
LEAN ON RUSHING ATTACK EARLY IN THE SEASON
With Fields’ unevenness all through coaching camp, the Jets could should lean on their dashing assault to win video games.
Through the Jets’ second drive, they rushed for 47 yards and acquired into subject objective vary by working 10 of 11 performs. However their drive finally stalled when Fields’ move on a 3-and-10 play was incomplete, they usually settled for a 38-yard subject objective by Nick Folks.
Since Glenn turned their head coach, the Jets have sought to determine themselves as a dominant soccer group, specializing in a run-heavy strategy. They’ve invested closely of their offensive line lately, which figures to be one of many strengths of their group. Additionally, Fields is a dynamic runner, one among three quarterbacks (Michael Vick and Lamar Jackson) who’ve rushed for over 1,000 yards in a season.
Whereas it appears like their passing offense is a piece in progress, the Jets’ floor sport could have to hold the load, particularly contemplating their early schedule. The Jets’ 4 out of six opponents to start the season made the playoffs final 12 months (Steelers, Payments, Buccaneers, and Broncos). So there may very well be lots of Breece Corridor, Braelon Allen, and Isaiah Davis whereas Fields continues to study the offense.
“I thought our guys did a really good job of that,” Glenn stated about dashing the ball. “Man, we know that if we can just hunker down and get our guys to run the ball, that’s an advantage for us. But just overall still, I mean, it just wasn’t good enough.”
SECONDARY STRUGGLED WITH GARDNER
No Sauce Gardner was an enormous downside for the Jets’ secondary early in opposition to the Giants. Russell Wilson accomplished 4-of-7 passes for 108 yards, together with an 80-yard deep move play to Beaux Collins. Each Andre Cisco and Qwan’tez Stiggers have been in protection however have been unable to stop the Wilson to Collins connection.
That arrange a one-yard landing by Devin Singletary, which gave the Giants an early 7-0 lead.
Gardner didn’t play attributable to calf soreness. He additionally missed Wednesday’s joint observe due to the harm. The harm doesn’t sound critical, however Gardner is likely one of the Jets’ finest gamers, so there’s all the time concern.
The problem may very well be at security for the Jets. Tony Adams was benched final season after struggling. Cisco signed with the Jets after the Jaguars allowed him to stroll in free company.
Stiggers additionally continued to wrestle a lot of the night time, however he did decide off Wilson in the long run zone for a touchback within the second quarter.
YOUNG WRS CONTINUE TO STAND OUT
There are a number of questions concerning the Jets’ receiver corps outdoors of Garrett Wilson. Nevertheless, they’ve some fascinating, proficient gamers who might make the ultimate roster.
Amongst them is Arian Smith, who was the Jets’ fourth-round pick of Georgia. He entered the league with points with drops, however Smith completed with two catches for 39 yards. Jets coaches have been impressed with Smith throughout coaching camp. However he did have one drop in opposition to the Giants, so that is an space he might want to proceed to scrub up.
Undrafted free agent Brandon Smith and Quentin Skinner have additionally been spectacular. Brandon Smith completed with 5 catches for 48 yards. Skinner scored the one Jets landing of the night time after he held onto a one-handed catch at the back of the tip zone for a landing.
Xavier Gipson left earlier than halftime attributable to a shoulder harm. Due to the uncertainty at receiver, the Jets could have tough choices forward of cutdown day, which is Aug. 26.
Initially Printed: August 17, 2025 at 10:05 AM EDT
