The Jets have reached the last stop on the preseason tour, and Friday night against the Giants figures to be less about the scoreboard than about the roster math that follows. Aaron Glenn and his staff still have decisions to make, and a long list of players are running out of time to make their case for jobs, practice squad spots, or simply another shot in the league.
One of the most interesting battles could come without much glamour at all: the kicking game. The Jets already announced that Jason Sanders beat Cade York for the primary kicker job, but neither player exactly lit the summer on fire.
Across town, the Giants are sorting through their own competition, with undrafted rookie Dominic Zvada and incumbent Ben Sauls still going at it. That means a field goal or two could end up carrying a lot more weight than usual.
Bailey Zappe is another name worth tracking closely. He came into camp trying to lock down the backup role behind Geno Smith, but Cade Klubnik has generally been the steadier and more productive quarterback through two preseason games.
Zappe’s line says plenty: 12 completions on 18 attempts for 123 yards, with no touchdowns, two interceptions, and two sacks. A strong night won’t wipe out everything that came before it, but it would at least give him something better to take into cutdown weekend.
There’s also a development question hanging over two young defenders who have drawn plenty of attention this summer. David Bailey has quickly emerged as one of the Jets’ most intriguing rookies, while the Giants have seen similar buzz around Arvell Reese.
Both have flashed enough to make fans wonder how much more they should play in a game that doesn’t count. Do the teams keep feeding them snaps because growth matters, or do they protect players they already see as part of the future?
The Jets’ secondary is another area that should get a real workout. Injuries have thinned that cornerback group during camp, which could put Samuel Womack III, Jordan Clark, and Qwan'tez Stiggers in the spotlight against a Giants receiving room filled with veterans and players still trying to stick.
Calvin Austin’s recent injury may have created an opening, and that could give someone like Odell Beckham Jr., Isaiah Hodgins, Braxton Berrios, or another reserve receiver a better chance to carve out a role. That should mean plenty of chances for the Jets’ defensive backs to make a play.
And then there’s the part of preseason football that diehards love most: the fourth quarter. For everyone else, it can look like empty calories.
For the players still on the field, it’s anything but. A lot of those snaps will belong to guys who won’t be on active rosters by the end of the weekend, though some will land on practice squads and others may catch the eye of another team.
That desperation usually sharpens the action, and it can turn the final minutes into the most compelling stretch of the night.
In Other News...
Jets Still Have Two Roster Holes Cutdown Day Could Finally Fix
The cutdown deadline always has a way of clarifying what a roster still needs, and the Jets are entering it with two spots that could be addressed if the waiver wire breaks their way. One possibility is Lucas Patrick, the veteran offensive lineman with the Giants who is not expected to survive final roster cuts, a profile that could appeal to a team still looking for dependable depth up front.
Quarterback is the other lane the Jets may be watching, especially if Aidan OConnell becomes available after roster trimming in Las Vegas. OConnell has the kind of experience that can matter for a club seeking a veteran backup, and for the Jets the question is less about star power than whether the right names are suddenly there when the market opens. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Secondary Buzz Could Force A Real Defensive Change
The Jets secondary has started to develop a different kind of conversation as camp and the preseason have given Aaron Glenn more reasons to look beyond the usual setup. Andre Cisco and Dane Belton have both flashed enough to make a stronger case for regular snaps, and Cisco added to that buzz with an interception in a recent win. For a defense that wants to stay flexible, those kinds of performances can change how a coaching staff draws up its packages.
Now the question is whether Glenn leans into that depth by using more three-safety looks with Minkah Fitzpatrick on the field in those heavier rotations. If Cisco and Belton keep stacking strong outings, the Jets may not just be evaluating two promising defensive backs, they may be looking at a real adjustment to how the back end is deployed this season. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Enter Cutdown Week With One Big Question About This Defense
Training camp is over, roster cutdown week is here, and the Jets are moving into the next phase of the preseason with a clearer picture of where their depth stands. Cade York was waived after losing the kicking competition to Jason Sanders, one of the early personnel decisions that comes with this stretch, but the bigger focus remains on how the roster will settle around the defense and the identity the team wants to carry into the season.
The plan on that side of the ball is straightforward in concept and demanding in execution: disrupt quarterbacks and receivers, attack the ball and keep explosive plays to a minimum. It is the kind of blueprint the Jets believe can lift a unit that ranked poorly a year ago, but the real question now is whether the group on hand can turn those goals into results once the roster is finalized and the games start to count. [Read more 🡒]