As the Cleveland Browns get ready for Week 5, the New York Jets arrive as a different kind of opponent than the one they were a year ago. These teams met last season, and New York walked away with the win. Now the Jets come in as part of their own rebuild, with veteran quarterback Geno Smith back where his career began.
That change starts on offense. The Jets have young playmakers around Smith, including wide receiver Garrett Wilson and running back Breece Hall, though Hall could miss Week 5 because of an injury.
There’s also rookie tight end Kenyon Sadiq, who gives New York some versatility in the tight end room. The offensive line is competent, the receiver group has talent, and offensive coordinator Frank Reich has managed to keep the unit functioning at a respectable level.
Smith’s presence matters because it gives the Jets something they lacked before: steady quarterback play. Last season’s version of this offense was short on that, and Smith brings a much more settled feel after a rough situation with the Las Vegas Raiders.
The Jets’ record, though, hasn’t matched the idea of a team on the rise. Head coach Aaron Glenn is already under a spotlight, and it’s fair to wonder whether this could be his last season in Gang Green.
New York probably should be 2-2 instead of 1-3. The loss to the Green Bay Packers came more from the Jets handing the game away than from Green Bay simply taking it from them.
Then on Sunday, the Jets looked flat and were outplayed by a Chicago Bears team that was without superstar quarterback Caleb Williams.
That’s why questions about Glenn are starting to hang over the team. People have already wondered why New York brought him back after last season, and if the Jets don’t start showing real improvement, a change could come sooner rather than later.
Defensively, there are some new names and some veteran help, but the results still don’t fully match the paper upgrade. The Jets broke a long interception drought before Week 4 when safety Minkah Fitzpatrick picked off the Bears on Sunday. Along with linebacker Demario Davis, Fitzpatrick gives the unit a veteran edge, and the secondary has pieces in cornerback Azareye’h Thomas and rookie D’Angelo Ponds.
Still, there are problems all over that side of the ball. The pass rush has been especially underwhelming. Even after offseason efforts to address it, the Jets are 29th in pressure rate, and rookie David Bailey hasn’t shown the traits that led New York to draft him second overall.
So while the Jets look improved in spots, the on-field product hasn’t fully caught up. That’s the version of New York the Browns have to prepare for in Week 5: better on paper, uneven in practice, and still trying to prove this isn’t the same old story.
In Other News...
Browns Defense Suddenly Has A New Problem Ahead Of Jets Game
The Browns defense got a fresh dose of uncertainty this week when the teams Week 5 injury report landed ahead of Sundays matchup with the Jets. Defensive tackle Mason Graham is dealing with an MCL and ankle sprain, while defensive end Derek Barnett is also on the report with an ankle injury, giving Clevelands front another reason to monitor practice closely as the week unfolds.
Safety Grant Delpit was limited because of a shoulder issue, adding to the sense that this unit may not be at full strength when it needs to be. Dillon Gabriel has been cleared to return but is still waiting on a roster spot, while wide receiver Tylan Wallace sat out practice with a knee injury, leaving a few moving parts for Cleveland to sort through before game day. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Could Be Eyeing A Week 5 Opponent For Defensive Line Help
The Browns have been working through a familiar front-line question all season, and the possibility of adding help at defensive tackle has now turned toward a Week 5 opponent. One name that fits the profile is Jets veteran Harrison Phillips, a sturdy run-stopper whose value would be tied to improving a defense that wants more resistance up front without forcing a long-term commitment.
Phillips also comes with a contract situation that makes him easier to imagine in trade discussions as the calendar moves toward the 2026 deadline, especially if New York slips and decides to move veterans for future assets. For Cleveland, the appeal is straightforward: a short-term fix for the defensive line now, while still leaving room to spend a draft pick on a more permanent answer later. [Read more 🡒]
Former Bears QB Turned A Terrifying Health Scare Into A New Mission
Connor Shaws life changed in an instant during a youth flag football game in September 2025, when the former NFL quarterback and ex-Bears signal-caller suffered sudden cardiac arrest while coaching his son. He was saved by quick CPR from bystanders and medics using an automated external defibrillator, then later had a heart monitoring device implanted as he continued to recover from the scare.
Now Shaw is turning that frightening experience into a broader push for preparedness through HRTHUDL, the nonprofit he founded to raise awareness about sudden cardiac arrest, teach CPR and help get AEDs into communities in South Carolina. For anyone around football, especially youth sports, it is the kind of reminder that the most important play can happen long before kickoff. [Read more 🡒]