Geno Smith’s day at the New York Jets’ joint practice with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Tuesday didn’t exactly help quiet the questions around him.
Smith threw two interceptions, and one of them went all the way back for a pick-six. The session also got chippy, with three fights breaking out, and Qwan'tez Stiggers left on an ambulance.
The rough practice comes as Smith tries to reset the script in his second stint with the Jets after leading the NFL in interceptions last season with the Las Vegas Raiders. His best NFL stretches came in Seattle, where he put together strong seasons in 2022 and 2023, earned Pro Bowl nods both years, and won the 2022 AP Comeback Player of the Year Award.
For his career, Smith has piled up 22,168 passing yards, 124 passing touchdowns and 89 interceptions, with a 42-56-0 record as a starter.
Even with the shaky practice, Frank Reich has seen enough to like what he’s getting from the quarterback so far. Reich, who has been in the NFL for a long, long time, said he’s been impressed by Smith’s “football mind” since arriving as the Jets’ new OC.
"It's hard for me right now to not be overly, what's the word, effusive with praise, but I am just so impressed with Geno," Reich said, via Jets.com. "I know we haven't played any games yet, we've got a long way to go, we've got a lot to prove.
But man, he is on point. His preparation is top-notch, his football mind is elite, the way he's communicating in the huddle and at the line of scrimmage and the way he communicates in the quarterbacks room."
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Aaron Glenn Addresses Frightening Jets Camp Medical Scare
A routine training camp day turned uneasy for the Jets when cornerback Qwan'tez Stiggers was rushed to the hospital by ambulance after a medical scare on the sideline. The episode briefly overshadowed practice, and it quickly became the sort of moment that reminds everyone around camp how fast football can shift from ordinary reps to real concern.
Head coach Aaron Glenn addressed the situation afterward and praised the medical staff for the way they handled it, emphasizing the fast response that followed. Stiggers is still recovering in the hospital, and for the Jets the focus now is on his health first, with everything else at camp taking a back seat until there is more clarity. [Read more 🡒]
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Jets Practice Scare Puts Qwantez Stiggers Status In Immediate Doubt
A tense moment interrupted the Jets joint practice with the Buccaneers when cornerback Qwantez Stiggers suddenly collapsed on the sideline and had to be taken to a local hospital. It was the kind of scene that instantly shifts attention away from camp competition and toward the bigger priority, because Stiggers has been battling for a larger role while also contributing on special teams in a crowded cornerback room.
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 🡒]