Jets quarterback Geno Smith showcased a commanding performance Friday night, quieting training camp concerns with a perfect 10-play opening drive in the team's preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Smith, who missed the previous week's preseason opener due to an ankle issue, appeared fully recovered and ready for the regular season.
Smith completed all seven of his passes for 65 yards, culminating the drive with a 13-yard touchdown pass to Jelani Woods. His participation concluded after this series, with backup quarterback Cade Klubnik entering the game.
While the offense captured significant attention, the Jets' starting defense also delivered a strong showing, holding the Steelers scoreless over two full series and part of a third. Notably, the Steelers rested starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers, with Will Howard managing the offense against the Jets' defense. The Jets' second-team defense recorded two interceptions of Howard, courtesy of safety Andre Cisco and cornerback Sam Womack, marking significant plays given the team's interception drought in the previous season.
Rookie David Bailey also contributed a first-game sack, overpowering Steelers tackle Broderick Jones on third down.
On offense, Smith connected with six different receivers, including a 21-yard gain to Adonai Mitchell and a completion to tight end Mason Taylor that converted a third down. Another crucial third-down conversion was a 10-yard pass to Garrett Wilson, setting up the Jets inside the Steelers' 13-yard line.
New offensive coordinator Frank Reich's play-action pass design led to Woods' wide-open touchdown reception. Following this successful series, Smith and the offensive starters exited the game.
Smith's preseason has seen a mix of strong and less effective practices. His brief appearance against the Steelers, who fielded most of their starters excluding T.J. Watt, demonstrated a controlled performance that addressed some of the lingering questions from his inconsistent summer.
Klubnik, competing for the backup quarterback role, faced consistent pressure and struggled to replicate the crispness of his previous outing. He was sacked twice, committed an intentional grounding penalty, and saw a potential pass to Isaiah Williams result in a fumble. Klubnik finished with 75 yards on 10-of-14 passing over five series without scoring.
The Jets' second-team defense continued to prevent the Steelers from scoring. A potential scoring threat was halted when Cisco intercepted Howard deep in Jets territory. The sideline reacted enthusiastically to the interception, acknowledging its significance in light of the team's recent history. Womack later secured a second interception before halftime, but the subsequent drive stalled, and a 59-yard field goal attempt by Cade York went wide right.