Jets' takeaways: Protect the football, create some turnovers

Aaron Glenn wore a boxing glove during a practice drill this week, and he bounced from player to player, trying to punch the football out of their hands.

Other coaches did it too, wearing either a boxing glove or long green arm pads. It’s something the Jets do every day, but it was the first time Glenn took part.

It was his way of letting the players know that enough is enough — they have to take care of the football.

“I've always been a coach of action,” Glenn said. “I really want to get down and dirty and show the players exactly how you want to do things. I just thought it was important for all of us as coaches to be a part of it.”

The Jets lost three fumbles in Monday night’s loss to Miami. They lead the NFL with six fumbles. They also may lead the league in coaches wearing boxing gloves punching at the football.

“I've always been big on you could emphasize things with words all you want, but you have to put action behind the emphasis,” Glenn said. “Listen, we can't turn the ball over. We know it loses games.”

The adage that whoever wins the turnover battle wins the game may be a cliche, but it is true for the 2025 Jets.

They have committed seven turnovers and have zero takeaways. That adds up to an NFL-worst minus-7 turnover differential.

At 0-4, the Jets aren't the only winless team, but they’re the only one with no takeaways. The Dolphins had none before playing the Jets.

The Jets’ opponent Sunday is a team that you don’t want to give extra possessions. The Cowboys have the No. 1 overall offense and are fifth in scoring, averaging 28.5 points per game.

The Jets can’t afford to be careless with the football again. If they lose, Glenn will become the first Jets coach to begin his career with five straight defeats.

“We got to protect that ball at all costs,” offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand said.

The Jets’ seven turnovers have led to 34 points — four touchdowns and two field goals. They’ve lost three games by six or fewer points. Those  miscues have been devastating.

“If you turn the ball over, unless you create some, you put yourself at a severe disadvantage,” receiver Garrett Wilson said. “It just puts more of an emphasis on when you do have that ball, you're carrying the whole organization in your hands. It’s something that we emphasize every week.

“It's been really costly, so I hope if it didn't hit home before for some of the guys, it's definitely hitting home now.”

In Week 1, Xavier Gipson’s fumble on a kickoff return turned into a Steelers touchdown. The Jets lost, 34-32. In Week 3, Tyrod Taylor’s fumble led to a Tampa Bay field goal, and he also threw a pick-6. The Jets lost, 29-27.

Last week, Braelon Allen fumbled at the Miami 1-yard line and returner Isaiah Williams coughed up the third-quarter kickoff. Both were converted into touchdowns. The Jets lost, 27-21.

Gipson was released the day after his fumble. Williams, who also backed up to fair-catch a punt at the 3 instead of letting it bounce into the end zone for a touchback against Miami, was waived on Saturday.

Holding players accountable is important. Holding on to the ball is just as important. In addition to the drills, Glenn had the practice team try to punch the ball out of players' hands during live team periods.

“We're doing everything we can to improve on that,” he said. “These things come in bunches, and we know that. So hopefully our bunches are out of the way.”

The sudden changes put the defense in a bad position. The defense isn’t doing anything to help the offense by creating no sudden changes in 245 defensive snaps.

That was emphasized this week as defensive players tried to punch the ball out more during practice.

The Jets have had opportunities. They just haven’t capitalized.

The Dolphins fumbled twice, but the Jets weren’t in position to get the football. They’ve been out of position a lot. The Jets have five forced fumbles and have no recoveries. They’ve also allowed seven passing touchdowns. They gave up 18 all of last season.

“We just got to be more cognizant of the ball,” cornerback Sauce Gardner said. “I've just been a part of so many years of the ball being on the ground, and I just feel like we never recover it.”

When Gardner was a rookie in 2022, the Jets finished with the second-fewest fumble recoveries (four). They had 10 in each of the last two seasons.

“I feel like whenever we get one of those, like just one fumble recovery, it's going to turn all the way around in terms of the takeaways,” Gardner said.

Defensive coordinator Steve Wilks said “it’s definitely a little disappointing” to have no takeaways after four weeks.

If the Jets don’t get any against Dallas, they will match the franchise record of five straight games without a takeaway. It was established in 2018 under coach Todd Bowles. The Jets lost all five of those games.

“The ball has been on the ground several times. We just got to be able to be there and come up with the opportunities,” Wilks said. “When you look on the back end, we've had that chance at certain times. We just got to finish.”

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.