The Jets didn’t waste any time showing off the rookie class they brought in back in April. On their first offensive series of the 2026 season in Nashville, Kenyon Sadiq and Omar Cooper Jr. both popped immediately, and New York kept rolling from there.
Sadiq finished the opening drive with a 3-yard end-around touchdown, while Cooper ripped off a 30-yard catch-and-run to help set up the score. By the time the dust settled, the Jets had built a 20-3 lead over the Tennessee Titans heading into the fourth quarter at Nissan Stadium.
That first possession put a spotlight on the first-round haul the Jets assembled: Texas Tech edge David Bailey at No. 2, Oregon tight end Sadiq at No. 16 and Indiana receiver Cooper at No.
- Tennessee countered with its own first-round talent, taking Ohio State wideout Carnell Tate at No. 4 and Auburn edge Keldric Faulk at No.
- In all, five first-round rookies were on the field in Week 1.
Sadiq’s first NFL touchdown came despite missing the entire preseason after hernia surgery. He still looked plenty sharp.
On the scoring play, he caught a 7-yard pass from Geno Smith, then went in motion, took the handoff and cut left into the end zone with 10:45 left in the first quarter. Jason Sanders added the extra point for a 7-0 Jets lead.
Jordan Schultz posted on X: “Helluva start to the young career of #Jets rookie TE Kenyon Sadiq. They love him in Florham Park.”
Sadiq’s speed was part of the plan. He ran a 4.39-second 40-yard dash at the combine, the fastest time ever recorded by a tight end, and offensive coordinator Frank Reich used that burst on a play Sadiq had run at Oregon. The Jets have been looking for more juice in their skill group, and Sadiq and Cooper gave them a dose of it on one drive.
Cooper, working from the slot, converted a third-and-9 with his 30-yard gain and helped push the Jets into first-and-goal territory. The play showed the yards-after-catch explosiveness that made him a first-round target. He later left with an ankle injury and was ruled out, according to ESPN.
The conditions in Nashville were no joke either. It hit 95 degrees, with the heat index climbing toward 100, but the Jets kept controlling the tempo. They put together a 19-play drive in the second quarter that ended with a 33-yard Sanders field goal and a 10-3 halftime lead, per NBC Sports.
New York stretched the margin in the third quarter when Breece Hall scored on a 4-yard run after the Titans were penalized for 13 men on the field. Sanders later drilled a 51-yard field goal to make it 20-3.
Bailey got in on the action too. The No. 2 overall pick recorded his first NFL sack when he brought down Cam Ward for a 1-yard loss on third down, according to The Tennessean. For a Jets defense that finished near the bottom of the league in sacks last season, that was a welcome sign.
Tennessee’s rookies had their moments as well. Tate hauled in his first NFL catch, a 12-yard reception, while Faulk logged rotational snaps on the Titans’ defensive line. Both clubs used the opener to take stock of young talent after 3-14 seasons in 2025.
The Jets still have Garrett Wilson and Hall as proven pieces, but the rookie class is already making its case. Bailey is expected to grow into a steady pass-rush presence, while Cooper’s status for Week 2 against Green Bay is uncertain after the ankle injury. Sadiq, after limited camp work, will also be one to monitor.
For one hot afternoon in Nashville, though, the formula was simple: motion, speed, and young playmakers turning early chances into points.
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Titans Still Have One Big Problem Despite Staying Within Reach
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The bigger concern was on the other side of the ball, where Alontae Taylor had a rough stretch in coverage and was flagged for pass interference. For a team trying to keep games close and create opportunities late, that kind of breakdown is costly because it erases the work done elsewhere. The Titans were still alive at the break, but the defensive margin for error already looked thin. [Read more 🡒]