3 things the Jets should do before the end of the season
Jets rookie WR Arian Smith looks on against the Carolina Panthers at MetLife Stadium on Oct. 19. Credit: Jim McIsaac
The Jets’ next defeat will clinch their 10th consecutive losing season. Not making the playoffs for the 15th straight year is not far behind.
They traded away two foundational-type players, Quinnen Williams and Sauce Gardner, for draft capital two weeks ago. The Jets’ best player, Garrett Wilson, is on injured reserve with a sprained knee. His return this season is iffy.
It’s all about 2026 for the organization.
The Jets need to spend the final seven games evaluating the players on their roster and seeing whether they should be a part of the future. This team is 2-8 and in a complete rebuild again — once more looking for a franchise quarterback.
Aaron Glenn made the move to bench Justin Fields and give the football to 36-year-old Tyrod Taylor, which kind of goes counterintuitive to evaluating young players. But Glenn had to do this. To build a winning culture you have to win some games and Taylor gives the Jets a better chance than Fields.
Glenn should have, and probably would have, gone to Taylor sooner had he not been nursing a knee injury leading up to the Jets’ Week 8 game in Cincinnati. Better late than never, but this shouldn’t be the last move at quarterback.
Unless Taylor leads the Jets on an unexpected winning streak, Glenn should eventually turn to undrafted rookie Brady Cook in December and see what he can do. For now, let the proven Taylor try to push the ball down the field, which was an area where Fields struggled.
Here are three other things the Jets should do before this season is out:
1. Get the young wideouts the ball
Wilson will miss his fourth game on Sunday, and he still leads the Jets with 59 targets. Josh Reynolds’ 21 is second-most among receivers. Reynolds also is on IR and will miss his sixth game.
Not bringing in a proven No. 2 receiver was a big oversight by Glenn and GM Darren Mougey. They have to figure out if they have someone who can develop into a WR2.
The Jets are high on AD Mitchell, who came from Indianapolis in the Gardner trade. Mitchell was a second-round pick in 2024 out of Texas. He’s got good size (6-2), speed and can run smooth routes.
Mitchell had a rough Jets debut with three drops last week against New England, but he was able to get separation. The Jets should keep going to him.
Rookie Arian Smith, a former All-American in track, has only six catches. He hasn’t been targeted the past two games and played just nine snaps against New England. Smith’s strength is being able to take the top off the defense. Maybe Taylor can throw him some deep balls and open up the offense.
The Jets have used rookie Isaiah Williams more than Smith lately. Both should be involved as well as John Metchie, a Houston second-round pick in 2022. Metchie, who was acquired last month from Philadelphia, caught what might have been Fields’ last touchdown pass as a Jet.
2. Move on from Allen Lazard
Let Lazard go and sign with a contending team that needs a receiver, maybe Pittsburgh where he can reunite with Aaron Rodgers again.
Keeping Lazard earlier this season made some sense because he’s a veteran presence, a smart player, good blocker and a big target around the goal line. The Jets haven’t used Lazard much. He was a healthy scratch two games ago and was active but didn’t play against New England.
The Jets have five healthy receivers, four more on the practice squad and Reynolds is eligible to come off IR next week.
3. Work on extensions
Locking up Breece Hall and Quincy Williams should be priorities. Whether it happens is another story altogether.
Hall, who was nearly traded, has proved his worth this year. If he wants to remain with the Jets, they should get it done early. If not, they could franchise tag Hall in the offseason.
Williams was benched a couple weeks ago and told reporters — a no-no with Glenn. Williams could win back his coach’s trust by performing the way he has the past two games. He is still the best and most productive linebacker on the team. The Jets should hold on to him.
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
