Jets make the only preseason decision that ever made sense

The New York Jets made it official on Thursday, as head coach Aaron Glenn revealed that Justin Fields and the rest of the starting offense will take the field in Saturday’s preseason opener against the Green Bay Packers.

It was the only logical decision for a Jets team that is still going through obvious growing pains this summer. And it's also in direct contrast to how the previous regime approached the preseason under former head coach Robert Saleh.

The Jets essentially punted on the preseason last year, resting nearly all of the starters until Week 1. The result was a blowout loss to the San Francisco 49ers that helped set the tone for a disastrous five-win season.

Glenn didn't offer a complicated answer when asked about his decision. "Because we want to play," he told reporters. "Every game matters. We want to win."

This year’s staff is already operating differently, and this decision is another sign that the new era in Florham Park isn’t here to waste time.

The Jets will play Justin Fields and the starters in the preseason

Saturday's preseason opener may not technically count toward the team's win-loss record, but it matters, especially for a Jets offense that's still finding its footing and learning a new system.

Justin Fields specifically needs reps. That much has become increasingly evident throughout camp. While he bounced back with a considerably more decisive performance on Thursday, it came on the heels of a brutal string of practices that saw him complete under 35% of his passes.

The hope is that the live-game setting will help him settle in, find a rhythm, and build chemistry with his receivers. That can’t happen from the sideline.

But this isn’t just about Fields. The entire Jets offense is learning a brand-new system under offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand. The added emphasis on motion and tempo makes it a more complex system than what many players here have dealt with in the past.

This offensive group needs time to gel, and that doesn’t happen in shells during a Thursday walkthrough. You can only simulate so much. At a certain point, you need to play.

That’s a lesson the Jets seem to have learned the hard way under Saleh. They often came out flat to start the year, losing three of four Week 1 games during his tenure, with the lone win coming in the chaotic 2023 opener where Aaron Rodgers infamously tore his Achilles.

Glenn isn’t interested in repeating those mistakes. His approach has been noticeably different. Practices are more intense. Live tackling periods have returned. The team is running more situational drills.

If the offense looks shaky in August, you don’t cross your fingers and hope it works in September. You fix it now. You play. That's the strategy Glenn seems to be employing.

It remains to be seen how much the starters actually play this weekend, but Saturday will be a big test, not just for Fields, but for the entire offense. The coaching staff knows it. The players know it. And this time, they’re not going to wait until Week 1 to find out if it’s all working.

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