One great preseason performance could easily be written off as a fluke.

Two straight is a hot streak.

Three straight, though? Now we’re talking about a trend—and trends deserve attention.

The Jets are one day away from their 2026 preseason finale, the annual “Snoopy Bowl” against the New York Giants (7:30 p.m. EST). It’s a chance for some of their most consistent performers across the first two preseason games to make a statement by completing a perfect three-for-three run of impressive outings.

Here are two Jets players who performed well in both of the first two preseason games and can make some significant headway in their respective roster battles with another excellent game on Friday night.

SCB Jordan Clark

Jordan Clark joined the Jets as an undrafted free agent out of Notre Dame in 2025. He made the team’s practice squad and ultimately played six regular-season games, logging 139 snaps.

Clark collected nine tackles while primarily being deployed as a slot corner. He struggled in coverage, though, allowing 16 of 20 passes in his direction to be completed for 140 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions (135.4 passer rating).

This summer, the second-year man has looked like a much-improved player. Through two games, he leads the Jets’ defense in total tackles (12), solo tackles (12), and defensive stops (6). He’s kept everything in front of him in coverage; while 11 of 13 passes his way have been completed, they’ve led to only 45 yards, a measly 4.1 yards per reception, and no touchdowns.

Clark was a standout against both Tampa Bay and Pittsburgh. In each of the Jets’ first two preseason games, Clark had six total tackles with three of those being defensive stops.

Overall, Clark recorded an 89.8 coverage grade at Pro Football Focus across the two games, the fifth-best mark among cornerbacks (min. 50 snaps) this preseason. His six defensive stops are tied for the most at the position.

Clark’s preseason dominance is a significant step up from where he was at this point last year. In the 2025 preseason, he had just three tackles, three defensive stops, and a 64.8 coverage grade from PFF across three games (71 defensive snaps).

Uncertainty across the back end of the Jets’ defensive back depth chart has left an open lane for Clark to potentially steal a roster spot. Seventh-round rookie safety VJ Payne remains sidelined with a bone bruise, while second-year safety Malachi Moore has struggled to stand out after a shaky rookie season.

With another outstanding game, Clark could play his way onto the roster.

G Marquis Hayes

As the New York Jets scrounge for interior offensive line depth, Marquis Hayes is making the best impression among their internal options.

Hayes is the Jets’ only backup interior lineman who has put together back-to-back clean performances to begin the preseason. Across 43 total offensive snaps, Hayes has yet to commit a penalty or allow any pressures in pass protection (22 pass-blocking snaps). He has also made some nice blocks in the run game, earning a 79.3 run-blocking grade from PFF.

Of the 10 Jets offensive linemen to play 40+ snaps this preseason (i.e., every lineman outside the starting five), Hayes is the only one with no penalties, no allowed pressures, and a 70.0+ run-blocking grade.

Sixth-round rookie guard Anez Cooper had the most impressive single-game performance of any backup Jets lineman when he dominated the Buccaneers in Week 1, but after being upgraded to the second-string line in Week 2, Cooper struggled mightily. Hayes, though, stayed clean in both games, first playing left guard in Week 1 and then swapping to right guard in Week 2.

Hayes, 27, is a fifth-year veteran, although the former seventh-round pick has never played in a regular-season game. But with the Jets being egregiously thin on interior offensive line depth, he could make a case for a roster spot with one more clean performance.

Right tackle Chukwuma Okorafor, left tackle/emergency guard Max Mitchell, center Xavier Newman, and right guard Anez Cooper appear to be locked into roster spots as the Jets’ backup offensive linemen. But if the Jets are hesitant about Cooper’s rookie-year readiness and also don’t trust Mitchell as a backup guard, Hayes could make a case to convince them to keep 10 offensive linemen.

Hayes made the Jets’ initial 53-man roster as a 10th lineman in 2025, although he was later waived and re-signed to the practice squad to make room for cutdown-day waiver claims. This was despite a three-penalty preseason.

If Hayes can complete a clean sweep in the pressure and penalty columns on Friday night, he might be able to stick around on the roster this time around.