The Injury That Wasn’t
Most rookie stars leave the field limping after a hard hit in camp. David Bailey did not. The second overall draft pick suffered what looked like a bad ankle twist late Saturday, yet he got up and jogged off the sideline. Coach Aaron Glenn confirmed the status just hours later in a quick update. “I would say day to day, but let me make sure because … he got up and I think he jogged off,” Glenn said. “So, I would think it would be that.” This small detail matters because the Jets need Bailey healthy right now.
The rookie edge rusher has been a force all week, giving starting left tackle Olu Fashanu serious trouble. He recorded two would-have-been sacks and spent most of the scrimmage in the backfield. A mild injury could slow him down, but the fact that he moved without pain is a good sign. The team hopes he can help fix a pass rush that ranked 31st in the league last year with only 26 sacks. Bailey had 14.5 sacks at Texas Tech, so the talent is clearly there.
Offense Stumbles While Defense Shines
While Bailey showed resilience, the offense faced a reality check during the same intrasquad scrimmage. Quarterback Geno Smith struggled after a solid start, and his lone touchdown pass almost ended in disaster. The ball was deflected by safety Minkah Fitzpatrick before being caught for a score by Isaiah Williams. In a real game, Smith might never have thrown it at all because Bailey was right there to sack him. Despite a shaky protection scheme, Smith completed 12 of 20 passes for 157 yards and a touchdown.
The offensive line struggled to block the second overall pick and handle blitzes. Penalties piled up as the hot morning wore on, hurting the flow of the game. Center Josh Myers described the performance bluntly to reporters. “Good in a lot of areas and not so good in some others, but that’s what this time is for, working out some of the penalties and things like that,” Myers said. “Up-and-down day, I thought.” The team added Geno Smith and two first-round picks to the offense, but Saturday proved they still have work to do.
Big Names and New Roles
Beyond the injury and the offense, the camp featured some huge personal moments for the players. Malachi Moore, a second-year safety from Alabama, finally got to play alongside his idol, Minkah Fitzpatrick. Moore grew up watching Fitzpatrick and even joked about how Nick Saban used to confuse their names on film. Moore said it was crazy for him to be on the team now, noting that he looked up to Fitzpatrick from high school onward and that Fitzpatrick was everywhere on the walls at Alabama.
The coaching staff is also looking at ways to use their most explosive athletes in new roles. Isaiah Williams showed his value with a 36-yard touchdown catch and four other receptions. Coach Glenn wants to make sure the team uses his speed on offense, not just on returns. Glenn said he loves the kick return and punt return ability but emphasized that there are things Williams can do on offense and that the team will have to find a way to get him the ball since he is an explosive player. Kenyon Sadiq Injury Setback Threatens Jets Rookie Year covers the wider picture.
The Jets will need all their stars healthy as they head into the next phase of camp. Bailey’s ability to jog off the field suggests a quick recovery, but the team must remain cautious. If the rookie edge rusher stays on the field, the pass rush could finally become a strength. The offense, meanwhile, must clean up its penalties before the preseason games begin.
