Jets' Aaron Glenn will play starters in preseason opener
New York Jets quarterback Justin Fields throws during training camp on Thursday. Credit: Corey Sipkin
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — The Jets will open the preseason Saturday in Green Bay, and Aaron Glenn wants to win the game — his way.
Glenn announced that he’s playing his starters against the Packers in his first game as an NFL head coach.
“We’re playing,” he said after Thursday’s practice. “We’re playing. I can’t tell you how much guys are going to play. It’s going to factor in how the game goes, but we’re playing.”
Glenn’s reasoning is very simple.
“I want to play. That’s the reason,” he said. “I want our guys to play. That’s the reason.”
Many coaches use joint practices against opposing teams as their preseason. Former Jets coach Robert Saleh did that last year. The Jets will have two next week against the Giants.
But in his first training camp, Glenn is running things differently from many former Jets coaches. He’s stressing competition and playing physically, which is why it’s not much of a surprise that he’s playing his healthy regulars in the first preseason game.
“We’ve been tackling in practice,” cornerback Sauce Gardner said. “I was pretty sure that he was going to want us to be able to tackle another team. I’m embracing that and I’m looking forward to it, but I definitely was not surprised. None of us was surprised when he said that.”
Glenn has been running one-on-one tackling drills with offensive players being brought to the ground. There has been live tackling in team drills as well. Glenn is looking to this as an opportunity to start seeing all the things he’s teaching and preaching show up in games.
“Every time we go on the grass, the first thing I expect is to win,” Glenn said. “I do. But I expect to win in ways that we really talk about, what we’re trying to create during camp . . . Everything that we talk about trying to build, as far as trying to get this team to operate, I want to make sure that’s showing up on the tape. That’s important to me.
“I want the score to be in our favor. I do, but more or less I want the things that we’re trying to create to show up — like every play that we’re out there. And that’s what I’m looking for.”
This will be a chance for Justin Fields to run the offense against a different defense and show the type of strides he’s made and where he needs to improve. Earlier in the week, he was in favor of playing in the preseason.
“I think we need to at least see the field each and every game,” he said. “I think that will be good for our team, it will be good for Tanner [Engstrand, the offensive coordinator] in the in-game stuff, it will be good for me, the guys on offense.”
The Jets are putting a lot on Fields’ shoulders to lead this team and are trying to make him more of a passer. He’s an explosive runner when plays break down, but he hasn’t been especially sharp throwing the football in practice, at least until Thursday.
Fields unofficially was 15-for-42 with two interceptions in the previous three practices but was much more effective and efficient in Thursday’s practice and got the offense going right away.
He led the Jets on a touchdown drive on their first move-the-ball period, going 3-for-4 and hooking up with Garrett Wilson for a touchdown.
“I was real impressed with the way our offense handled the first drive,” Glenn said. “I thought Justin did a hell of a job getting guys in and out of the huddle, being commander of the offense, knowing exactly what we’re trying to accomplish.”
Fields ended up 8-for-15 with one touchdown pass, one touchdown run and an interception that should have been caught by Jeremy Ruckert. It bounced off his hands and Brandon Stephens picked it off. Fields also led a field-goal drive during a situational end-of-game drill.
“He’s a very mature person and he understands the highs and lows of this game,” Glenn said. “There’s so much outside noise to try to beat him down. And he’s so mature, he doesn’t allow that to be a factor in how he’s going to go about his business.”
Two-minute drill
Edge rusher Will McDonald returned to practice after leaving Tuesday with back spasms . . . Defensive tackle Byron Cowart (ankle) is doubtful for Saturday’s game.
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
More Jets
