Geno Smith came into the New York Jets’ first week of training camp looking like one of the offense’s brightest spots. By several accounts, the veteran quarterback had been crisp and efficient, with stretches where the ball barely hit the ground.
That made Tuesday’s opening joint practice against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers a jarring turn.
Reporters on site in Florham Park described a rough day for Smith, and the numbers backed it up. Midway through practice, SNY’s Connor Hughes reported that Smith was 8-for-13 with two interceptions and two sacks, and that he hadn’t connected on anything longer than seven or eight yards.
Smith’s struggles only deepened from there. He was intercepted three times in all, with the first pick going to former Aaron Glenn pupil and Detroit Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone. That play was wiped out by a Buccaneers defensive holding penalty.
Geno Smith picked off. Alex Anzalone undercut a route.
Bad throw. Nothing there.
Anzelone on the “almost a Jet” team. #Jets
There was a defensive holding away from the ball.
- Connor Hughes (@Connor_J_Hughes) August 11, 2026
Roughly 10 minutes later, Smith was picked off again, and this one went for a touchdown. Garrett Wilson fell down while running the route, so the play may not have been entirely on the quarterback. Still, the result was another ugly moment in a sloppy session.
Geno Smith picked again. Josiah Trotter.
Threw it right to him. Third INT for Geno today - two in 11-on-11 drills.
It’s been a bad day.
Comes back and dirts the next one. #Jets
- Connor Hughes (@Connor_J_Hughes) August 11, 2026
The Jets offense was supposed to be the group that looked more settled heading into the work against Tampa Bay, especially with the Buccaneers dealing with their own issues. Their defense is missing its best player up front because of Vita Vea’s ongoing contract dispute, and several unproven defenders in the secondary are still battling for jobs.
That said, one practice against outside competition is a small sample, and Smith was seeing a different defensive look for the first time. There’s still room to chalk this up to adjustment rather than anything bigger.
But there’s another read on it, too: that a 35-year-old journeyman quarterback may simply be showing what he is at this stage, and that Jets fans could be looking at more days like this in 2026.
Either way, Smith gets another shot quickly. The teams are set for a full practice tomorrow, and they’ll play a preseason game Friday evening. For the Jets, the hope is simple - that Tuesday turns out to be the outlier.
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Jets Practice Scare Puts Qwantez Stiggers Status In Immediate Doubt
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Head coach Aaron Glenn said Stiggers was conscious and talking afterward, which offered some relief after the scare, but his status remains very much in question as the Jets move through camp. For a player trying to carve out defensive snaps, even a brief medical interruption can matter, and the team will be watching closely to see how quickly he can get back on the field. [Read more 🡒]