New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn turned heads Thursday morning when he announced that the team’s starters will play in the preseason opener on Saturday against the Green Bay Packers.
His reasoning, while controversial, was clear.
“Every time we go on the grass, the first thing we expect is to win,” Glenn said. “I do. But I expect to win in ways that we talk about in what we’re trying to create during camp.”
Key starters like quarterback Justin Fields will be making their debut as members of the Jets. Even if we do not know how long they will play, New York keeping their starters out in the preseason shows a shift in their overall mindset.
New York’s decision for Saturday could be the first mistake of the Glenn era.
Jets’ First Big Mistake
Let’s get this out of the way: For a team that has consistently lost for 14 seasons, it makes plenty of sense for Glenn to want to see his starters in action throughout the preseason.
It is still a reckless decision, though.
Due to Glenn and the new front office going through a re-tooling of the roster, the Jets are thin at many positions. The depth at defensive line, wide receiver, and linebacker is concerning.
That means keeping their starters healthy is of paramount importance.
The reality is that Glenn will not be excused if an injury happens to one of the team’s better players. If Garrett Wilson or Sauce Gardner were to suffer an injury on Saturday, and the team crumbles around their loss throughout the 2025 season, people will not excuse Glenn’s first season because of that.
As much as Jets fans may want to be patient with this new coaching staff, it’s unlikely they’ll be happy with another five-win season.
That is the exact reason why the Jets starters should not be playing during the preseason. With 17 games to play in just a few months, New York needs their team as healthy as possible to be competitive.
That will not happen if someone important gets hurt.
Glenn’s decision can be commendable for a down-on-their-luck franchise like New York. That doesn’t mean it’s the right decision for the future of the organization.
