The Jets didn’t leave Ford Field with a win, but they did leave with a clear picture of who helped keep them in it and who hurt their chances in a 31-24 loss to the Lions.
For a team that came in short-handed and out-talented, the offense did enough to make things interesting. New York piled up 335 total yards, with 321 of them coming through the air from Geno Smith. That kind of production won’t erase the loss, but it did spotlight a few players who made real noise.
Kenyon Sadiq was at the front of that group. The rookie tight end, who arrived from Oregon with a reputation as an athletic freak, backed it up on Sunday.
With the Jets thin at receiver and tight end, he delivered a huge outing: seven catches, 105 yards, and a touchdown. It was the kind of performance that puts a player on the radar fast, and it’s hard to ignore how much he can matter in this passing game.
Garrett Wilson also made his presence felt in a big way. The Jets fed him 13 targets, and he turned that volume into 10 receptions for 107 yards and the game-tying touchdown late in the contest. He also left the game with an injury and wasn’t on the field for the Jets’ final possession, but the message was already clear: this is how the offense needs to use him.
Smith, meanwhile, was close to flawless for most of the day. He finished 31-of-37 for 321 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions.
The lone ugly moment was a fumble that ended up sealing the game for Detroit, though that play was tied to a missed pass-protection assignment from Braelon Allen rather than a Smith error. Even in defeat, Smith gave the Jets a real chance.
Not everything held up, though. The defense that entered Week 3 as the league’s No. 1 unit in yards allowed per game took a hit against Jared Goff and company.
Detroit threw for 269 yards, and Jahmyr Gibbs was a major problem all afternoon. The highest-paid rusher in the NFL finished with 164 scrimmage yards and two rushing touchdowns.
One more stop, and the result could have gone the other way.
The offensive line also had a rough afternoon, and Olu Fashanu was the clearest example. After the Jets looked dominant up front in Week 1, the last two games have told a different story.
Against the Lions, the third-year left tackle gave up 2.5 sacks and five pressures, according to Next Gen Stats. That’s a tough day for the player expected to hold down the blind side.
Special teams rounded out the list of problems. Chris Banjo’s unit, which drew plenty of praise in 2025 and even got him mentioned as a possible future head-coach candidate, had an off day in Detroit.
The Jets couldn’t get their return game moving, and they allowed Jacob Saylors to break off a 44-yard kick return late in the second quarter. That group needs to get back to the standard it set just under a year ago.
In Other News...
Jets Suddenly Have A Bigger Breece Hall Problem
The Jets were already scrambling in Week 3 against the Lions without several key starters, and the injury list only grew from there. One of the biggest concerns came when Breece Hall went out with a thigh injury, forcing New York to adjust on the fly in a game where depth was already being tested.
Hall sounded unsure afterward about just how serious the issue might be, which is where the real concern starts for the Jets. Braelon Allen handled the lead-back role once Hall exited, but for a team trying to piece together its offense through injuries, any uncertainty around Hall carries obvious weight going forward. [Read more 🡒]
Dan Campbell Just Gave Jets Fans A Reason To Reconsider Aaron Glenn
Aaron Glenns first season has come with plenty of scrutiny, especially when late-game decisions and clock management have left Jets fans grumbling. But after a tight loss to the Lions, Dan Campbell offered a different perspective on the coachs work, praising Glenn publicly and crediting him for how hard the Jets made the game. For a team that has spent much of the year fighting through injuries and a difficult schedule, it was another sign that the performance level has been trending in a better direction even when the results have not always followed.
Campbells endorsement carries some weight because of his history with Glenn, and it arrives at a time when the Jets are still sorting out what their present and future should look like under him. There has been visible progress from a roster that leaned on contributions from Geno Smith, Kenyon Sadiq and Garrett Wilson to stay competitive against a strong opponent, even if the final score again left room for frustration. The broader question now is whether the improvement around Glenn is enough to quiet the criticism, or whether the conversation around him will keep coming back to the same lingering issues. [Read more 🡒]
Aaron Glenn Just Gave Jets Fans Their Most Encouraging Sign Yet
The Jets left Detroit with a loss, but there were clear signs of a team starting to look more organized under Aaron Glenn. Against a Lions squad that can overwhelm opponents, New York stayed competitive throughout a 31-24 defeat in Week 3, and the little details were better too. Situational awareness and clock management, both areas that have hurt this group before, were noticeably sharper even as the roster dealt with injuries and a talent gap.
Geno Smiths afternoon also offered a real reason for optimism. He completed 31 of 37 passes for 320 yards and three touchdowns, giving the Jets the kind of efficient, productive quarterback play that can keep them in games if the rest of the operation continues to clean itself up. For a team still trying to establish Glenns standard, the result was disappointing, but the process looked more like progress than setback. [Read more 🡒]