FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — The New York Jets are into their second week of training camp. There will be no (or shouldn’t be any) sweeping conclusions made based on what has transpired so far, but there is plenty to be learned.
A few players — some expected, some surprises — have stood out through five practices, two of them in pads. Here’s a look at eight who have caught my eye:
OT Armand Membou
An argument could be made Membou has been the best player on the field in training camp. He’s at least been the best player on offense. Membou has been dominant at times, especially since Monday when the pads came on. There was one practice last week during which David Bailey got the better of him on a few reps, but that hasn’t happened much since.
On Tuesday, Membou didn’t let any pass rushers near Geno Smith and opened up holes in the running game. During one-on-one drills, Will McDonald tried using his agility and speed to get around him, but Membou blocked him all the way around the pocket and then into the ground. Bailey attempted to bull rush him, and it didn’t go anywhere. Membou looked like a high-caliber tackle as a rookie, and he appears ready to make a leap in Year 2.
“I just knew that he was going to come back in the offseason program and just be stone-faced and ready to go,” Jets coach Aaron Glenn said. “And he was exactly that. Man, he has this look on his face right now to where every rep matters, every rep counts. … He’s operating at a high level right now.”
His battles with Bailey have been fun to watch.
“He’s a really good player, man,” Bailey said. “Good feet, good low center of gravity, and he’s ridiculously strong. He’s been getting me better.”
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S Minkah Fitzpatrick
Membou has been the Jets’ best player on offense, and on defense, it’s probably been Fitzpatrick. The Jets haven’t had this caliber of safety since Jamal Adams and Marcus Maye were at their best in 2019. Maybe Fitzpatrick isn’t the same player he was in his prime, but he’s quickly made an impact on the back end, much needed for a group of defensive backs that put together one of the worst statistical seasons in team history last season.
Fitzpatrick has had either an interception or close to one in just about every practice, including a pick off Smith on the first play of team drills Monday. He always seems to be in the right place, and Glenn is using him all over the formation. His teammates and coaches have raved about the impact he’s made behind the scenes, too.
OLB David Bailey
Last week, Bailey had about as dominant a practice as you’ll see out of a rookie pass rusher, getting two or three “sacks” (there is no contact on the quarterback in practice) and a couple of tackles for loss. He hasn’t reached quite that peak since, but he’s still looked far and away like the Jets’ best edge rusher through five practices.
He’s had more success going against left tackle Olu Fashanu than Membou on the offense’s right side.
“He’s been a pain, man,” Membou said. “He’s a great player. He’s smooth, he’s quick, and he’s got a natural ability to rush the passer.”
Bailey’s get-off and burst is his best and most obvious trait, but his strength in bull rushes has been impressive. He’s made an impact in the running game, too, a significant development considering that was a big question for him coming into the NFL. The Jets will rotate their edge rushers, but Bailey has been getting most of the reps with Joe Ossai injured. Kingsley Enagbare was stepped on during Monday’s practice and sat out Tuesday.
“I’m just having fun with my brothers out there,” Bailey said.
QB Geno Smith
Maybe this is a product of watching Justin Fields practice last year — and Zach Wilson in years past — but it has been a welcome sight to watch a quarterback who, at the very least, can make all the throws and is willing to try them. He was perfect in Saturday’s practice (11 for 11 in 11-on-11 drills), though Smith came back down to earth Monday, throwing an interception on his first pass attempt. (Monday’s practice was affected by pouring rain.)
Smith was far from perfect Tuesday — 7 of 12 with an interception in 11-on-11 — but that doesn’t accurately highlight the quality of some plays he made in team drills. The interception was a poor throw into traffic, deflected by Jamien Sherwood into the arms of cornerback Brandon Stephens. Then Smith nearly threw another pick a couple of plays later, but otherwise, he was mostly on the money.
On one play, he stood strong in the pocket as pressure came and threw a laser across his body into a tight window, complete to tight end Mason Taylor. Later, he connected with Garrett Wilson down the sideline on a perfect throw, hauled in by a toe-tapping Wilson for a 15-20 yard completion. He later connected with wide receiver Isaiah Williams on another deep ball, 20-25 yards down the field.
There’s something to be said about a quarterback who 1. can make all the throws, 2. isn’t afraid to take risks and 3. doesn’t let a mistake (such as an interception) affect him afterward.
Rookie Cade Klubnik is also worth mentioning: He’s completed 10 of 16 passes in two padded practices and appears to have a real command of the offense. He’s doing a solid job of reading the defense and making quick decisions. Preseason will go a long way toward figuring out whether he’s ready to be QB2.
CB Azareye’h Thomas
It felt like Nahshon Wright had the edge in the spring, but through five practices, it feels like Thomas is more likely to emerge as the starter opposite Brandon Stephens. He held up well against Wilson in Tuesday’s practice, nearly intercepting Smith at one point. Glenn has been tough on him — when he was asked how Thomas was playing last week, Glenn said he’d wait to answer that until he saw him in pads.
On Tuesday, Glenn said Thomas was “doing well” but that he still needed to shake off some rust.
Thomas started five games last season, then suffered a season-ending injury, missing out on valuable experience. He said last year he “hesitated” a lot, so he focused this offseason on “trusting my eyes.”
“There were a lot of plays I left out there” in 2025, he said.
DT Darrell Jackson
T’Vondre Sweat (hamstring) remains out, which has given Jackson a real opportunity to push for playing time. The fourth-round rookie is making the most of it so far. His size (6 feet 5, 315) is unique for a nose tackle, and he’s made his mark even against Jets interior linemen such as Dylan Parham, Josh Myers and Joe Tippmann. With his ability to eat up blocks, he could play his way into a rotational role as a rookie.
“He’s long, he’s got big hands, he’s able to disengage and make a play,” Glenn said. “He can play gap-and-a-half, which I like between the defensive tackles. So, the more reps that he gets, I think the more comfortable he will get.”
TE Jelani Woods
The fifth-year tight end has been a pleasant surprise in the tight ends group, and rookie Kenyon Sadiq’s injury has allowed him more valuable reps with Smith and Klubnik. Sadiq suffered a setback in his return from offseason hernia surgery and is expected to miss some time.
As for Woods: He missed two full seasons with the Colts (2023 and 2024) because of injuries but is fully healthy and showing some of the potential that made him a second-round pick when offensive coordinator Frank Reich was the head coach in Indianapolis. He has some legitimate ability as a blocker and has made some impressive plays catching the ball, too. On Monday, he was targeted a handful of times and caught most of them.
“There’s a number of things that you can envision him doing for us,” Glenn said. “You can split him out and let him go one-on-one with a safety, a linebacker, and I’m expecting him to win that matchup.”
K Jason Sanders
The Jets have had their fair share of kicking competitions during training camps, but none has been as closely contested as this one. Sanders and Cade York have been nearly perfect when given the opportunity to alternate field goal attempts; Sanders has just been slightly better. Specifically, on two separate occasions, he has nailed 60-yard attempts, and York missed his.
Sanders connected on 8 of 8 attempts Tuesday, and York went 7 of 8. The veteran Sanders has much more experience and a stronger NFL track record than York, so he should be considered the favorite.