Jets relying more on tight ends in Frank Reich's offense, and it's paying off so far

The Jets’ opening drive of 2026 set the tone for the game and perhaps the season. Multiple tight end sets are the new normal for the Jets.

They rarely used those packages last year under former coordinator Tanner Engstrand. It will be a staple with Frank Reich calling the plays this year.

The Jets ran three plays in 13 personnel – three tight ends, one running back – three times on the opening drive in their win over Tennessee. They did that three times all of last season. The drive ended with a touchdown in 13 personnel.

Tight ends Mason Taylor and Jeremy Ruckert were lined up on the left. Rookie Kenyon Sadiq was on the right. Sadiq took the handoff from Geno Smith and scored on a 3-yard end-around following the blocking of Ruckert and Taylor.

“I think that room is a weapon for us,” Aaron Glenn said.

No one can say the Jets didn’t warn everyone.

From the time they drafted Sadiq in the first round, Glenn talked about the mismatches that the talented tight end from Oregon could cause and that the group as a whole could create.

Sadiq is a quick, thick, versatile athlete. He has wide-receiver speed but is built like a tight end. He is a mismatch nightmare for linebackers or nickel corners.

Taylor is a good pass catcher and improving as a blocker. Ruckert, the Lindenhurst product, is the grimy, selfless player who Glenn referred to as "a jack-of-all trades.” Jelani Woods is a big 6-7 target.

“That's something that we've talked about since we drafted Sadiq — to be able to match him up with Mason, Ruckert, and Jelani and to be able to move these guys around because they can do so much,” Glenn said. “Those guys allow you to do a number of things.”

Glenn wasn’t kidding. Reich isn’t playing either.

There was one play in the second half on Sunday that Reich deployed all four tight ends and fullback Andrew Beck with the Jets in the red zone. Taylor and Beck lined up on the outside and Sadiq in the backfield. Smith scrambled for 7 yards.

On the next play, Breece Hall scored on a 4-yard run with the Jets in 12 personnel – two tight ends and one running back. Hall ran left behind a key block by Ruckert. The Titans were flagged for too many players on the field because they didn’t sub in time to match up with the Jets.

“They were running guys off because we had a certain personnel package in the game with all of those tight ends,” Glenn said. “I thought that was pretty fun to see.”

It’s hard for defenses to prepare for Week 1 because there really is no film to scout. Teams are vanilla in the preseason and barely play their regulars. This is on tape now so Green Bay should be a little more ready for the two- and three-tight end packages the Jets run out there.

That’s what could make the Jets a fun offense to watch this season. They have talent and versatility at all the skill level positions to be unpredictable, diverse and explosive.

They put together a 19-play drive against Tennessee with 14 designed runs and 15 total, including a Smith scramble. The Jets were in multiple tight end sets on nine plays of that series and recorded first downs on four of them. A couple of drives later, Smith connected with Wilson on a 31-yard pass with the Jets in 12 personnel.

“Man, I'm a huge fan of our offense,” linebacker Demario Davis said. “How can you not be?”

Sadiq’s NFL debut was impressive, especially considering he missed all of OTAs and all but three practices of training camp due to a sports hernia/core muscle surgery. Sadiq returned to practice after the preseason and made his presence felt in Sunday’s game, finishing with 24 yards on four touches.

He called his first NFL touchdown “surreal” and said Taylor and Ruckert “made my job easy.” Sadiq played 28 snaps. He will likely see his usage and touches increase.

“He's a guy who's going to make an impact,” Smith said. “He's a professional, he understands what to do. … He showed up in a big way.”

This is what Glenn and the Jets envisioned from Sadiq and the offense overall. Glenn said he didn’t want to sound “arrogant,” but he expects his offense to score points this season and his tight end group to play a big role.

“That's an improved group,” Glenn said. “Each week we're giving them more and more on their plate so we can try to take advantage of who they are.”

It’s the new norm for the Jets.

By Al Iannazzone

al.iannazzone@newsday.comAl_Iannazzone

Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.