The Jets come into this week at 2-5, stuck in a two-game skid but still close enough in several of their losses to feel like a team that has been right there without getting over the top. That’s the frustrating part for New York: the chances have been there, but the finishing touch hasn’t.
Now the Raiders are coming to town, and they bring their own slide with them. Las Vegas is 3-4 after dropping four straight following a fast start, so both teams are walking into this one looking for a reset. For the Jets, the path to snapping the losing streak starts with a few clear priorities.
The first one is simple: get Garrett Wilson involved right away. Last week against the Dolphins, New York never really built a plan around its top receiver, and Wilson’s frustration showed in a quiet line of just two catches for 24 yards.
That can’t happen again if the Jets want their offense to find any rhythm. Wilson is too dangerous to be left on the side of the game plan, and New York needs to feed him early and often.
Ball security is the next big piece. Geno Smith has been solid overall, but the last two weeks have brought his only two interceptions of the season, and that’s the kind of trend the Jets need to stop before it grows.
Smith has thrown for 1,623 yards and 10 touchdowns this year, so the production has been there. If he keeps the ball out of harm’s way, he gives New York a much cleaner shot at controlling the game and limiting what the Raiders can do with extra possessions.
Then there’s Omar Cooper Jr., who gave the Jets a real lift last week even in defeat. He caught five passes for 115 yards and a touchdown against Miami, making it back-to-back 100-yard games.
Over three games this season, Cooper has 12 catches for 248 yards and two touchdowns, and he’s quickly become a dependable option in the passing game. If he can keep that level going, the Jets will have another weapon to lean on in a game they badly need to finish.
In Other News...
Jets Passing Debate Now Centers On One Garrett Wilson Question
Garrett Wilsons frustration with his role in the passing game has become part of the conversation around the Jets offense, and offensive coordinator Frank Reich is not trying to smooth it over. Reich described the receivers desire for more targets as healthy tension while defending a plan that spreads the ball around instead of locking onto one option, even as Wilson has remained the teams most productive pass catcher this season with 37 receptions for 444 yards and two touchdowns.
The latest flashpoint came in the recent game against Miami, where the Jets again tried to balance getting Wilson involved with keeping the rest of the passing game active. Reich pointed to how attention on Wilson can create chances elsewhere, including for Omar Cooper Jr., but the larger issue remains the same for a team that has struggled to win games: finding an offense that keeps its top receiver engaged without making the attack too predictable. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Lose T'Vondre Sweat And Now Face A Tough Timeline
The Jets have lost another piece in the middle of their defense, placing defensive tackle TVondre Sweat on injured reserve and forcing him out for at least the next four games. Sweat had become a steady presence in the rotation, appearing in seven games and contributing 17 combined tackles along with two tackles for loss before the setback.
For a defense built around controlling the line of scrimmage, the timing is less than ideal, and it leaves the Jets with a short-term hole to patch in Aaron Glenns 3-4 front. The club still believes Sweat can be back later this season, but the immediate challenge is finding enough stability inside while he works his way toward a return. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Just Sent A Clear Message In The Will McDonald Debate
Will McDonald IV has become one of the more interesting names on the Jets roster as the season has worn on, and not just because of his play. According to Sports Illustrateds Albert Breer, there has been significant trade interest in the edge rusher, a sign that other teams still see value in a player whose production has not matched the expectation around him this year.
For the Jets, though, the message has been clear. They have not moved him, and with his fifth-year option already exercised, McDonald remains under team control through 2027. Even with the numbers not jumping off the page, New York appears intent on riding out the rest of the season with him in the mix rather than turning a draft pick into a short-term fix. [Read more 🡒]