Five questions for the Jets heading into training camp

By Al Iannazzoneal.iannazzone@newsday.com Al_IannazzoneJuly 22, 2025

Aaron Glenn’s first training camp as Jets coach is ready for liftoff.

The Jets will report for camp on Tuesday and Glenn will hold his first full practice as an NFL head coach the following morning.

Glenn, a Jets first-round draft pick in 1994, will try to resurrect a franchise that hasn’t made the playoffs for 14 consecutive years. Here are five questions facing the Jets heading into camp:

1. Will Aaron Glenn be the Jets coach who finally changes the culture?

That’s been a major topic, much like when Robert Saleh was hired in 2021. Glenn is confident he can fix the Jets with his brand of leadership, accountability and toughness. He also has experience in turnarounds and rebuilds as a player and coach.

Bill Parcells, Sean Payton and Dan Campbell are among the most influential people in Glenn’s NFL life. All three took over teams that were bottom feeders and made them Super Bowl contenders. Most recently, Glenn was Campbell’s defensive coordinator in Detroit. The Lions won three games in 2021 and 15 last year.

Glenn made a statement when the Jets parted ways with Aaron Rodgers, especially, and Davante Adams. Glenn’s message was no player is bigger or more important than the team. It was the beginning of the Jets’ much-needed culture change.

2. Can Justin Fields be as effective running an offense as he is running the football?

The Jets believe he can, otherwise they wouldn’t have made signing him a priority and named him their starter before taking the field for an OTA practice.

“We want to utilize his legs, but we also want him to play quarterback," Glenn said.

Fields is a dynamic player and his legs are definitely a weapon. Glenn and new offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand — another ex-Lions coach — want Fields to stay in the pocket and make plays with his arm.

Playing in this offense, Fields said, “I think I can be great.”

He will get the chance to prove himself. Since Jared Goff joined the Lions in 2021, he is second in passing yards and fourth in touchdowns thrown. That was Fields’ rookie year. Fields is 25th in both categories, with much fewer opportunities. He’s never thrown more than 17 touchdown passes in a season. Fields could have a breakout season.

3. Will the Jets have a formidable rushing attack like the Lions did?

That’s the plan, which should lead to Breece Hall becoming more of a focal point of the Jets’ offense than he was last season. It’s still befuddling that Hall never had more than 18 carries in a game last season. (It was part of the Rodgers effect of always wanting to throw the football).

The Jets ranked last in rush attempts, next to last in rushing yards and 30th in rushing touchdowns. The Lions, with David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs, were third in carries, sixth in yards and second in rushing touchdowns.

With Hall, second-year bruising back Braelon Allen and Fields, the Jets have a diverse three-headed rushing attack that could give defenses issues. They also have a young and improving offensive line that played better than expected last season. If their development continues, the Jets’ run game could take off.

4. Who will be the Jets’ No. 2 receiver?

Garrett Wilson can expect a lot of targets and defensive attention. He’s the Jets’ only real receiving threat, with three straight 1,000-yard seasons to begin his career. Reuniting with Fields, his college QB at Ohio State, should lead to another big year for Wilson.

The Jets have to find a No. 2 option, though, especially if they want Fields to be a complete quarterback. It could end up being rookie tight end Mason Taylor or Hall, a very good receiver out of the backfield.

As of now, veterans Josh Reynolds and Allen Lazard appear to be in line to be the No. 2 receiver among a group that also includes Tyler Johnson, Xavier Gipson, Malachi Corley and rookie Arian Smith.

The Jets could sign a free-agent receiver or pursue one in a trade.

5. Can the Jets return to being a legitimately dominant defense?

The Jets finished third in total defense last season, but that was misleading. They never got stops when they needed them.

Glenn and defensive coordinator Steve Wilks are expected to combine their philosophies, but one thing they have in common is they like to blitz. The Jets should be an aggressive, physical defense that hunts quarterbacks and takeaways.

The Lions were top five in blitz percentage, hurries, pressures and quarterback knockdowns last season. The last time Wilks was a coordinator was in 2023 with the 49ers and they were No. 1 in interceptions and tied for fifth in takeaways.

Sauce Gardner, Quincy Williams, Jamien Sherwood and Andre Cisco could thrive playing in this system. The return of versatile edge rusher Jermaine Johnson, who will start camp on the PUP list after tearing his Achilles tendon last year, will provide a big lift as well.