Geno Smith could make his preseason debut for the New York Jets in Friday night’s road game against the Steelers, with Aaron Glenn making it clear that the quarterback’s ankle will be handled carefully rather than rushed back too soon.
Smith practiced this week after being held out of the preseason opener because of ankle soreness, and Glenn’s approach has been consistent throughout camp: give the first units more work each week, but keep the bigger picture in mind with Week 1 against the Tennessee Titans the real target.
Glenn wants Smith ready, not rushed
Glenn said Smith is eager to get back into game action. “He’s a competitor, and he wants to make sure he gets those reps in,” Glenn said. But the Jets coach also stressed that the ankle issue is being managed with care.
“[His ankle] is not to a point where he can’t go out. Obviously, he’s out there practicing, but again, we want to make sure we’re doing the right things when it comes to him playing,” Glenn said.
That is the balance the Jets are trying to strike. Smith can take part if the staff believes it makes sense, but there is no need to force the issue in a preseason game, especially with the season opener only weeks away.
A preseason game with a purpose
The Jets are not treating Friday’s trip to Pittsburgh as a simple evaluation night. Glenn has said the preseason is part of the preparation process, and he has steadily increased the snap count for the first units during camp so they can handle a regular-season workload.
Last week, Cade Klubnik started against Tampa and led the Jets on two scoring drives while going 5 of 7 for 56 yards. The first-team offense also had one drive that ended in a field goal, while the first-team defense played two series and forced the Buccaneers to punt twice. That kind of work gives the staff a useful baseline, even before Smith returns.
Glenn has been direct about why he is doing it. “This is what I’m doing to get our guys calloused to play 65 or 75 plays a game,” he said. Next week, he added, the first units will get 50 reps before the team closes camp with a scrimmage that should get players about 65 reps.
“So our guys will be ready to play Week 1when it comes to that,” Glenn said.
The bigger picture for the Jets QB
For Smith, Friday would be less about proving anything and more about finding rhythm in live action before the real games begin. Glenn said there is value in that setting because it is different from practice and forces players to deal with the speed, crowd and game flow.
“It’s something about having how many people in the stands, being able to where the coach is not behind you, calling plays where you’re on the field,” Glenn said. “It’s something about being able to do that live that is totally different from practice, so I think it’s beneficial to be able to do that.”
That is why the Jets will keep looking at the decision through a practical lens. Glenn said he wants to make the right call on who plays, while also making sure the roster is prepared for the demands of the season. With the Tennessee Titans waiting in Week 1, the priority is clear: get Geno Smith back at the right time, and get him there healthy.
