Ashton Jeanty’s words reached Florham Park, and the Jets didn’t waste much time answering back.
The Raiders rookie running back said Wednesday that “a couple of guys” on the New York defense “don't really want to tackle.” By Friday, Jets coach Aaron Glenn had already brushed the jab aside and made it clear his team wasn’t planning to let it linger.
“This is the NFL, and I get it,” Glenn said. “Everybody's motivated by certain things.
But man, your true motivation is each week you get a chance to play, and I think that's about it. But words are always said between players, and that's just what it is.
Our guys will be ready to play.”
That matchup lands Sunday at MetLife Stadium, where the Jets will try to build on a defense that has allowed 21.4 points per game, 13th in the league, while piling up 19 sacks, good for the top 10. New York comes in at 2-5 in Glenn’s second season after going 3-14 in his first. Las Vegas is 3-4 under Klint Kubiak and has dropped four straight.
Jeanty, the No. 6 pick in 2025, has had a rough stretch of his own. He opened the season with 102 rushing yards in Week 1, then hasn’t topped 60 in any of the six games since.
Last week’s 35-21 loss to the Los Angeles Rams was especially quiet: eight carries, 15 yards. For the season, he has 328 rushing yards and three touchdowns, averaging 3.1 yards per carry, and the Raiders sit 31st in rushing offense.
“I think we can definitely get the run game going. Get back on track,” Jeanty said.
He also has a milestone in sight, needing 409 rushing yards to pass Marcus Allen for the second-most by a Raider through his first two seasons. Las Vegas ran it just 17 times last week.
Inside the Jets’ building, the reaction to Jeanty’s comment was part disbelief, part shrug. ESPN reported that some players were privately surprised by the remark given Jeanty’s own production.
Defensive coordinator Brian Duker smiled through his response Thursday.
“I've got plenty of confidence in our guys,” Duker said. “I think it can be better.
Obviously, overall there's certainly room for improvement. I'm always going to want more in that area as well.”
Duker said his players had heard about the comment, and safety Minkah Fitzpatrick said they found out in different ways. He wasn’t shocked a second-year player would say something like that.
“Whenever our name is brought up, whether it be by an opponent or past opponent, it catches our eye,” Fitzpatrick said. “But the way I operate, I give 110 percent effort no matter who I'm playing against, no matter what they said. Obviously, some things can add more fuel to the fire, but at the end of the day, I gotta go out there and do my job.”
The Jets will be short-handed on Sunday. Defensive lineman T’Vondre Sweat is out with a knee injury, while edge rusher Joseph Ossai (ankle) and offensive lineman Max Mitchell (concussion) are also unavailable.
Rookie edge rusher David Bailey is doubtful with a groin injury and a game-time decision. The No. 2 overall pick out of Texas Tech leads the Jets with 5.5 sacks, 7 tackles for loss, and 3 forced fumbles.
Breece Hall is questionable with a quad injury after three limited practices.
Glenn said the Jets will have to absorb the loss of Sweat, but he sounded confident in the depth behind him.
“Losing [Sweat], I mean, that's always a huge deal for us,” Glenn explained. “But the thing is we've got guys behind him that are going to come in and do a good job for us.”
Las Vegas also has injuries to manage. Defensive end Patrick Johnson is out with a stinger, tight end Carter Runyon is out with a foot injury, and tight end Brock Bowers was a full participant after being limited Wednesday.
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