The Jets got exactly what a preseason road trip is supposed to deliver: a clean win, a shutout, and a few real signs of life from players trying to carve out roles. New York beat the Steelers 17-0 on Friday to pick up its second exhibition victory of the summer, and the night belonged to a defense that kept Pittsburgh off the board while Aaron Glenn’s team got a first look at Geno Smith in a Jets uniform for 2026.
Smith’s return to action was as smooth as the Jets could have hoped. After sitting out Week 1 as a late scratch against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the No. 1 quarterback opened his preseason with a touchdown march that covered the length of the field. He was perfect on the drive, going 7-for-7, and finished it by hitting tight end Jelani Woods on a 13-yard score for a 7-0 lead.
The Jets also came away from Pittsburgh with something they rarely had enough of over the past year: interceptions. They picked off Steelers passes twice in the first half, even if those plays came against third-string quarterback Will Howard and a Pittsburgh offense that didn’t use any starters. Still, safety Andre Cisco and UDFA rookie Sam Womack both got in on the takeaway party.
Up front, first draft pick David Bailey kept building his case. Bailey recorded his first preseason sack after being held without one in the opener, and he added two quarterback pressures in 12 snaps. It was another productive summer outing for the rookie, who continues to make his presence felt.
Cade Klubnik also gave the Jets something to work with. The fourth-round rookie started against the Buccaneers and followed that with another solid showing against Pittsburgh, going 10-for-14 for 75 yards.
He didn’t direct a scoring drive, but he did move the offense some despite poor blocking in front of him. That’s enough for now to make him look like the clear second-string quarterback over Bailey Zappe.
Brady Cook later added a 31-yard touchdown pass in garbage time to stretch the lead to 17-0.
And then there was Nate Lynn, the newest name to pop on defense. A former UDFA in 2024, Lynn signed with New York on Tuesday and made an immediate impact. He produced two sacks and helped set the tone for the Jets defense in a game that quickly became his calling card.
In Other News...
Baker Mayfields Preseason Debut Comes With One Troubling Bucs Question
Baker Mayfield is set for his first preseason snaps of 2024 when the Buccaneers host the Chiefs, giving Tampa Bay a chance to get its starting quarterback into game speed before the real pressure starts. The bigger storyline, though, is on the edge of the line, where Tristan Wirfs is unlikely to go because of a hamstring injury, leaving the team to sort through its left tackle options on the fly.
Justin Skule and Benjamin Chukwuma are both in the mix to fill that spot, but their availability has been uncertain after recent practice absences, which complicates the picture even more. With that kind of instability protecting Mayfields blind side, Tampa Bay may choose to keep his preseason workload short and limit the exposure rather than risk a costly hit in August. [Read more 🡒]
Vita Vea Just Sent A Clear Message About Todd Bowles
The Buccaneers locked up Vita Vea with a contract extension, keeping one of the most important pieces of the interior defensive line in place as the team continues to shape its identity under Todd Bowles. It also gave Vea a chance to speak with the kind of authority that comes from being a franchise cornerstone, and he did not waste it when the conversation turned to the coach.
Amid the criticism that followed Tampa Bays late-season slide in 2025, Vea came to Bowles defense and said the staff had the team prepared. He made clear the issue, in his view, was not the game plan but the way the Buccaneers executed it on the field, a public show of support that says plenty about where at least one veteran stands as the organization sorts through the fallout. [Read more 🡒]
Ryan Fitzgerald Faces The Pressure Panthers Fans Will Be Watching
Vita Vea was back on the Buccaneers injury report Thursday as he continued working through a back issue, a reminder that Tampa Bay still has a few moving parts to sort out before the real ramp-up begins. The veteran defensive tackle is expected back next week for the joint practices in Jacksonville, and he has also made it clear he wants to stay in Tampa Bay while standing firmly behind head coach Todd Bowles.
Across the division, Panthers kicker Ryan Fitzgerald is dealing with a different kind of test. He is not battling for the starting job, but he is still battling the pressure that comes with being the one everyone watches, and special teams coordinator has pointed to Fitzgeralds growth and preparation this offseason. For Tampa Bay, it is one more familiar NFC South subplot to keep an eye on, especially when a specialists confidence can become part of the bigger picture. [Read more 🡒]