Going into any NFL preseason game, fans are always interested to find out whether their favorite team plans to let the starters play, and how much, if so.
The New York Jets have provided that answer going into the 2026 preseason opener.
On Tuesday, New York hosted the first of two joint practices with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who will visit the Jets at MetLife Stadium for the preseason opener on Friday night (7 p.m. EST). After practice, Jets head coach Aaron Glenn revealed the team’s plans for its starters: everybody is playing.
“I think it’s important for our guys to play,” Glenn said.
Glenn proceeded to explain the science-backed mindset behind the team’s approach to rep counts between joint practices and the preseason. He believes that the team has a plan in place that will reduce the risk of injury in the early part of the regular season.
“Now, there is science behind this also, as far as having joint practices and trying to get the guys at least, throughout the preseason, 25-30 reps throughout all three games. I don’t know how I’ll divvy that up, it’s a feel when you go into the preseason. But what they say is, when you have joint practices where ones (starters) get a lot of reps, and then you have that many plays, 25-30, in the preseason games, throughout those three games, the risk of injury actually goes down in that first part of the year.”
The Jets will host another joint practice with the Buccaneers on Wednesday. Despite at least three brawls on Tuesday, Wednesday’s practice is still on, as Glenn stated after practice, “That’s the one thing we’re trying to do, is get two days of good work with these guys.”
