The New York Jets open their 2025 season against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
However, they will be doing it without a full deck of cards. On Sunday, September 7, the team announced its inactive list.
On the Jets‘ pre-game show on YouTube, they announced that veteran wide receiver Allen Lazard, defensive end Braiden McGregor, offensive tackle Esa Pole, tight end Jelani Woods, and defensive tackle Leonard Taylor III won’t suit up for the season opener.
Head coach Aaron Glenn said Lazard would be healthy to go for Week 1. He wasn’t listed on the injury report, which means they have benched Lazard as a healthy scratch, putting his future into question. Lazard has 27 career touchdown receptions.
One of the other notable inactives was new tight end Jelani Woods. The Jets picked him off waivers from the Indianapolis Colts. Gang Green was intrigued by his massive 6-foot-7 frame, but fans will have to wait for his NYJ debut.
Jets Make Final OL Lineup Decision
Sources: The Jets will start Josh Meyers at center and Joe Tippmann at guard today as they work to replace Alijah Vera-Tucker,” NFL Insider Connor Hughes revealed on X previously Twitter.
Cam Heyward’s Status Could Have a Huge Impact on Jets-Steelers Result
Cam Heyward and the Steelers had been involved in a contract dispute.
That dispute has now been resolved at the stroke of midnight.
A deadline deal: Steelers and team captain Cam Heyward reached [an] agreement tonight on a revised deal that will add over $3 million in incentives this year and allows him to earn up $18 million this season, per source. Heyward will play Sunday vs. the Jets,” ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter shared.
Heyward skipped portions of the offseason in hopes that he would receive an adjusted contract. At the beginning of the week, Heyward said, “We will see” on the “Not Just Football” podcast about whether he would suit up. Now that question has been answered.
The Voice of the Steelers, Rob King, said when Heyward was on the field last year, Pittsburgh ranked second best in the league in yards per carry. However, when he wasn’t on the field, the Steelers plummeted to 31st in that same category.
This is a massive boost for Pittsburgh to have their All-Pro locked in and ready to go.
When Heyward was on the field, the Steelers were 2nd second-best in the #NFL in yards per carry. When he wasn’t, they were 31st.
Aaron Glenn Is Combining Philosophies for His 4th Down Strategy
Aaron Glenn is a defensive guy, but he doesn’t like that label. He also has roots with the Detroit Lions, who were known for their aggressive tendencies on fourth downs.
NFL Insider Connor Hughes of SNY asked Glenn about balancing those things and how he is going to find his own path as a head coach.
“That’s a really good question. I’ll be honest with you, early in my thought process, I was to a point where let’s punt and go play defense. But now, when you look at the analytics behind it, it tells you that there is a really good chance that you can make that. Mentally, I am somewhat aggressive, but I’m also calculated. It depends on who we are going against, depends on the situation in the game, but I know this, I’m going to be ready to make a decision, I’m going to make it fast, and whatever that decision is gonna be is it’s going to be best for our team,” Glenn explained.
They discussed the philosophy of aggressiveness on going for it on fourth down from a defensive HC perspective but also one that came from the #Lions who are super aggressive.
One Thing Will Never Change With Coach Glenn
Coach Glenn may have an open mind when it comes to his fourth-down decision-making. However, one place he will never change is his information sharing at pressers.
A media member on Friday, September 5, asked Coach Glenn if he would be willing to announce who would be starting against Pittsburgh.
Glenn blankly stared at the reporter for six uncomfortable seconds. He eventually broke the silence by asking, “Have I ever done that?”
The reporter responded, “No.”
“Nothing has changed. Why would I tell you that? Why would I give another team a competitive advantage by knowing what we are doing? Think about that,” Glenn fired back.
Jets Surprisingly Rule out 27-TD Veteran & 6-Foot-7 Pass Catcher vs. Steelers