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Geno Smith Looks Good in Jets Return as Gang Green Blanks Steelers

 Geno Smith marked his return to the New York Jets starting lineup with a perfect drive as the Jets came away with a 17-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Friday to improve to 1-1 on the preseason. 

Smith, who missed the opener against Tampa Bay because of an ankle injury, looked pretty good on Friday night, completing 7-of-7 passes for 65 yards and a touchdown. 

“It felt good to be out there with the guys,” Smith told reporters. “Obviously we got one drive in, but we scored a touchdown. You always want to start fast, and so that was a good thing. Definitely a lot of room for improvement.” 

Smith has had a shaky camp this summer. He looked great at the start of Training Camp, but lately has struggled as he's dealt with the ankle injury according to reports. 

For Smith to come out and show some poise is exactly what Aaron Glenn's club needs right now out of the position. Whether you love having Geno Smith back with the Jets or not, he gives them the best chance to win right now. 

As for Cade Klubnik, the rookie quarterback struggled on Friday.  While his stats looked good 10-of-15 for 75 yards, he couldn't put together a scoring drive in five possessions. The best play of the night from Klubnik came on a 16-yard scramble on a broken play. At times he looked like a rookie as he struggled to handle the Steelers pass rush. 

The story of the day was more the Jets defense than anything else. 

Rookie David Bailey put on a show. The second overall pick in this year's draft had a tackle and a quarterback sack of Will Howard on the Steelers second possession of the game. Bailey has been drawing praise from all circles this camp, and it appears he might be the real deal, which is huge for the Jets. 


 

Meanwhile New York got its first interception in a game since Week 18 of the 2024 season when Andre Cisco picked off a Howard pass inside the red zone and brought it back 23 yards.  Samuel Womack III also got a pick on a play on the sideline. 

Granted this stats do not count, but it was a relief to finally see the Jets secondary get its hands on the football. 

Finally Chase Wilson (#53) and Nate Lynn (#92) impressed on Friday night. Wilson had six tackles, a huge quarterback sack, and a pass defensed.  Lynn had two sacks and four tackles. 

The win was the Jets first preseason win since the opener of last summer's preseason at Green Bay. The Jets went 1-2 in exhibition games last year. 

While he won't say it, it had to be a little taste of vengence for Head Coach Aaron Glenn who lost the season opener to Pittsburgh last year in heartbreaking fashion. Speaking of that game, former Jet quarterback Aaron Rodgers did not play in the game, but did embrace Geno Smith in a long hug with some words after the game.  

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