Jets still focused on this season
Jets receiver Quincy Enunwa returned to practice Friday and could play Sunday against the Dolphins in Miami. Credit: Jim McIsaac
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — It’s nice that general manager Mike Maccagnan is excited about the “very active” offseason he expects the Jets to have, what with the team anticipating about $100 million in cap space and all.
But the Jets still have eight games remaining. They’d prefer to avoid a situation in which they’re just playing out the string, and a good step forward would be a win over the Dolphins on Sunday in Miami.
This will be the first of three straight AFC East matchups for the Jets (3-5). Their only divisional game thus far was a 20-12 loss to Miami (4-4) in Week 2.
“We’ve only played one division game so far,” wide receiver Jermaine Kearse said. “This one against Miami is going to be pretty huge for us to be able to take advantage of it. We got a really good opportunity to put ourselves in a good position in the division and put ourselves in an even better position going to the bye week.”
After visiting Miami, the Jets will host Buffalo on Nov. 11 before getting a week off. The Patriots visit MetLife Stadium the Sunday after Thanksgiving. How nice would it be for the Jets, their fans and rookie quarterback Sam Darnold if that game meant something?
In a bit of potential good news from Friday’s practice, wide receivers Quincy Enunwa and Robby Anderson participated on a limited basis and are listed as questionable for Sunday. Both have been out with ankle injuries, and coach Todd Bowles said the duo will be evaluated before the game. Obviously, if one or both could play, it would be a huge plus for Darnold in his second matchup with Miami.
“Obviously, it’s a divisional game, and going down there to Miami, it would be huge to get a win,” he said. “But again, it’s huge to get a win every single week. Just taking it week by week. Again, it’s a little bit different now playing a team for the second time in one year. It’s something you don’t really do in college unless you’re playing a team that you played in the regular season, and then like in a Pac-12 championship game.
“Little bit different and it’s cool to be able to use that experience that I had playing them the first go around to kind of see what we can do there.”
As is his custom, Bowles has downplayed the importance of any single game. For a coach who will be on the hot seat if this season goes totally south, all games are created equal.
“Well, the fact that we’ve got eight in front of us is the biggest thing,” Bowles said. “We’ve got to win eight no matter who we’re playing. The division means a lot, obviously, but we’ve got to win mostly all of them to try to get where we want to go.”
And all Jets fans know where they want to go. That’s why Maccagnan’s comments from Thursday had to be both inspiring and maddening. Yes, the Jets will be in a good position in the offseason, but how many times have Jets fans been told they have to wait ’til next year?
“We want to get there as soon as we can get there,” Maccagnan said. “I realize sometimes it takes a little time to build and develop things. Honestly, we want to get there this year.
Playing a young quarterback, whether it increases or decreases the chance for doing that, that’s fine. We have a vision for this team . . . Winning the next few games is our primary focus. Who knows how the season is going to play out? We go out there to win games and try to get to the playoffs. That’s what we do.”
Anthony Rieber covers sports media and business and professional sports (you know, games and trades and things). He has worked at Newsday since Aug. 31, 1998, and has been in his current position since Jan. 1, 2026.
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