When the Jets line up against Robert Saleh’s Tennessee Titans in Week 1, Frank Reich will have a little history on his side.
That’s the wrinkle in this matchup: Saleh is the defensive-minded head coach who knows how to make life miserable for opposing offenses, but Reich has already had success against him twice. Now Reich is back in New York as the Jets’ new play-caller, and he’ll get his first crack at trying to outfox Saleh again.
The first meeting came in Week 8 of the 2017 season, back when Saleh was in his first year as San Francisco’s defensive coordinator. Reich was running Philadelphia’s offense, with Carson Wentz at quarterback, and the Eagles made it a rough afternoon for the 49ers. Philadelphia rolled to a 33-10 win, piling up 304 yards of offense, including 211 through the air from Wentz and 112 on the ground.
Their second showdown came four years later, this time with both men in head coach roles - Saleh with the Jets and Reich with the Indianapolis Colts. That one is probably still fresh in the minds of Jets fans. In the 2021 Week 9 Thursday Night Football game, Mike White’s elbow injury forced Josh Johnson into action, and New York eventually fell 45-30.
Reich’s offense carved up Saleh’s defense again. The Colts racked up 532 total yards, Wentz threw for 272 yards and three touchdowns without an interception, and Jonathan Taylor gashed the Jets for 172 rushing yards, highlighted by a 78-yard touchdown run.
Of course, those two games don’t tell the whole story of what’s coming Sunday afternoon. Both coaches have lived through firings and fresh starts since then. But if the past is any guide, Reich knows how to make Saleh’s defense uncomfortable.
In Other News...
Jets Had Even Their Top Pick Guessing Before The Draft
The pre-draft process can be a maze for prospects, and David Bailey had one of the more confusing paths of all. About two weeks before the 2026 NFL Draft, the Jets canceled a planned meeting with the Texas Tech edge rusher, a move that left some uncertainty around how strongly they were considering him at the top of the board.
Bailey later said in an interview that he was unsure where he stood with New York, even as his agent told him the cancellation was not a sign of fading interest. The uncertainty ended in the biggest possible way for the Jets, who still made Bailey the No. 2 overall pick and made clear that a missed meeting was never the full story. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Enter Week 1 With Depth Concerns Aaron Glenn Couldn't Ease
The Jets are heading into Week 1 with a few key depth questions still hanging over the roster, and Aaron Glenn could only do so much to calm them before kickoff. Edge rusher Joseph Ossai and wide receiver Tim Patrick have already been ruled out for the opener, while rookie cornerback DAngelo Ponds and kick returner Kene Nwangwu were both listed as doubtful after dealing with calf and back injuries.
For a team trying to settle into a rhythm early, those absences matter because they trim the margin for error on both sides of the ball and in the return game. Glenn offered updates on where each player stands and sounded encouraged about Ossais recovery timetable, but the Jets still have to get through Sunday with some uncertainty attached to spots they were hoping would be settled by now. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Head Into Week 1 With Key Roles Suddenly In Doubt
The Jets are already dealing with a little September uncertainty before the opener even arrives, as Aaron Glenn ruled out edge rusher Joseph Ossai and wide receiver Tim Patrick for Week 1. Ossai was hurt in the preseason finale with a foot injury, leaving a spot on the edge suddenly unavailable, while Patricks absence trims another option from a receiver room that needs to settle in quickly once the games count.
There is more nervousness on the depth chart, too, with cornerback DAngelo Ponds and returner Kene Nwangwu both listed as doubtful because of injuries. Ponds is working through a calf strain, and Nwangwus availability is complicated by hamstring problems, which adds another layer of uncertainty to the Jets' special teams plans and secondary rotation heading into opening week. [Read more 🡒]