The New York Jets’ early camp buzz has centered on Geno Smith, and for good reason. After an offseason full of uncertainty at quarterback, Smith has wasted no time looking comfortable, and the pieces around him are better than what he had with the Las Vegas Raiders.
This time around, Smith is throwing to Garrett Wilson, Adonai Mitchell and a deep tight end room that gives him plenty of options. The big names are there, too: first-round draft pick Kenyon Sadiq, 2025 second-round pick Mason Taylor and Long Island legend Jeremy Ruckert are all drawing attention. But Smith pointed to a different tight end as the one really making noise early.
Speaking with reporters after training camp practice on Thursday, Smith singled out Jelani Woods as a player standing out.
"Specifically, I like the way Jelani has been out there making plays."
Woods, a former third-round pick with the Indianapolis Colts, is entering his second season with the Jets. He played in four games last season, made one start and caught one pass for four yards.
At 6-foot-7 and 250 pounds, Woods gives the Jets a big target, and the new offensive coordinator - a former Frank Reich pupil - appears to have plans for him. Training camp is where that work starts.
Smith also made clear he likes more than just the tight end room. He said the connection within the team has already stood out to him.
"The cohesiveness of the team, just how connected these guys are in the locker room. I think that's a big part of this thing, not just how we practice on the field, but the way that we connect off the field. And I think that's something that's been really pleasing to me."
For once, the Jets enter the season with legitimate reasons to be intrigued on offense. There’s talent at the skill spots, talent up front and, at least early in camp, a quarterback who sees the pieces fitting together. Now it’s about making sure it all clicks when September arrives.
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The Colts, meanwhile, are dealing with injuries at receiver and a season that has already gone sideways in ways that only sharpen the regret around moving him. Josh Downs and Alec Pierce have both been banged up, and with quarterback injuries and a missed playoff picture hanging over the year, fans in Indianapolis have been left wondering what might have been if Mitchell were still part of the mix. [Read more 🡒]
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Now Payne is dealing with a bone bruise suffered in practice, and the timing makes the roster battle a lot less straightforward. Missing the next few weeks leaves the Jets with a decision to make on a player they like for the future, even if the immediate path can still be managed in a few different ways before final cuts arrive. [Read more 🡒]