Tim Patrick isn’t shy about what he sees in the Jets’ huddle.
The veteran wide receiver called New York’s offense “insane” in terms of talent and said he has never been around a unit with a higher ceiling. When reminded that he spent time on the 2024 Lions, a team that went 15-2, Patrick didn’t blink. He stood by the comparison.
Patrick pointed to the tight end group as the piece that separates the Jets from that Lions team, saying Mason Taylor and top pick Kenyon Sadiq give New York the edge in that area. It was a strong statement, and one the Jets will now have to back up on the field.
There’s a case to be made that the optimism isn’t just talk. Frank Reich’s offense sits 27th in points per game, but the numbers don’t tell the full story. Two of the Jets’ five games have been played in heavy rain, and Geno Smith has been uneven as the season has gone on.
Even so, the Jets should feel better about what they’ve gotten from Smith than they did a year ago with the Las Vegas Raiders. The bigger problem has been the missing pieces around him. Without several of his safety valves, Smith’s tendency to hold the ball and take bad sacks has started to hurt New York.
The injuries have piled up fast. First-round pick Omar Cooper Jr. has been out since the opening drive of the season.
No. 2 wideout Adonai Mitchell is still sidelined by a finger injury. Breece Hall, who recently signed an extension, and left guard Dylan Parham are both working back, and Taylor only recently returned.
It’s a banged-up offense, plain and simple.
And yet, there are real reasons for Patrick’s confidence. Cooper and Sadiq look like high-end pieces for the future, and Garrett Wilson keeps reminding everyone he belongs in the conversation with the NFL’s most unique receivers. For the first time in a long while, the Jets can honestly say their skill-position talent is one of their strengths.
If Parham returns to form, New York could head into games with four of its five offensive linemen playing at an average or better level. Reich may not be the offensive mastermind he once was, but he has at least given this group a steady baseline. Once healthier, the Jets could make more noise than they have so far.
Still, Patrick may have set himself up for the kind of quote that gets replayed later. Bringing up a Ben Johnson-led offense that was rolling even on its off days is a risky comparison. But there’s no question the belief behind his comments is real.
In Other News...
Garrett Wilsons Message Said A Lot About These Jets
After the Jets win over the Browns, Garrett Wilson made a point of using social media to stand up for a teammate whose impact had already been felt on the field. The moment fit the mood around a locker room that has been trying to turn a good performance into something a little more meaningful, and Wilsons post said plenty about how players inside the building view one another when the spotlight is on.
Wilson had every reason to feel good about the day himself after catching 7 of 11 targets for 104 yards and a touchdown, but he still took the time to back David Bailey in the aftermath. Baileys work against Cleveland was impossible to miss, and Wilsons response added another layer to a win that felt bigger than a single box score, even if the outside recognition still hasnt caught up. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Kept Their Season Alive But Aaron Glenn Questions Remain
The Jets needed a response in Week 5, and they got one with a win over the Browns that nudged them to 2-3 and kept their season from drifting any further. It was their first victory in a true must-win spot this year, and the defense did plenty of the heavy lifting with a disruptive day that kept Cleveland from comfortably settling in.
Aaron Glenn still comes out of it with more questions than answers, though. The rookie head coachs overall mark is now 5-17, and even with the season hanging around for another week, the bigger conversation in Florham Park is whether this kind of win changes anything about the long view on his future. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Snapped Their Skid Behind A Finish Fans Will Be Talking About
Braelon Allen gave the Jets exactly the kind of running-game spark they had been searching for, piling up 116 yards while helping New York grind out a 17-12 win over the Browns. The offense did enough to stay in front when it mattered, with Geno Smith throwing for 182 yards and a touchdown as the Jets finally found a way to turn a close game into a needed victory.
New York still had to survive a tense finish, and the defense made sure the skid ended there. After a late fumble recovery put the Jets in position to close it out, the pass rush came through again in the final minute, leaving Cleveland to sort through another frustrating afternoon after dropped passes and its first loss since Week 1. [Read more 🡒]