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Late in Jets practice, defensive tackle Jay Tufele beat an interior lineman to pressure QB Justin Fields into throwing the ball away.
Tufele continues to stand out in practice, and I asked him about the differences between the system he played in Cincinnati and the Jets’ scheme, and could not contain his excitement in the answer.
“It’s night and day,” Tufele said. “In Cincinnati, you had to wait for the offensive linemen to react. This defense is all attack, so I’m just going. I’m really grateful to be in this system.”
It reminds him of what he did before entering the NFL.
“USC and high school were straight attack, and that is my game – that is what I play,” Tufele said.
So far in camp, it looks like the Jets system fits him to “T”ufele.
We will see what happens when the real football starts, but he seems like a good partner for Quinnen Williams inside . . .
Justin Fields had a better practice today than the previous few.
Now, it should be pointed out that some of his work was against the #2 defense, like on a Fields to Garrett Wilson strike over the middle with recently claimed corner Bump Cooper in coverage.
All his work wasn’t against the #2 defense, but some was, and it was a good idea for confidence building to get him away from Sauce Gardner and Brandon Stephens a little.
One of his better plays in practice was a pass down the right seam to Wilson for a touchdown, between defensive backs Isaiah Oliver and Andre Cisco.
This play was a perfect example of what Fox’s Mark Schlereth, who broadcast some of Fields’ games in Chicago, said about the QB.
“You watch him from the pocket, he’s off on that throw, that one got picked of, and then all of a sudden the inside receiver runs a slant and the outside receiver is on a seam route and Fields is perfect down the seam – in front of the safety before he has a chance to break on it and it’s a dime – bam – and the guy is down the seam for a touchdown,” Schlereth said recently on his podcast.
If the offensive coordinator dials up great first reads that are open, Fields can make all the throws.
The Jets need Tanner Engstrand to kill it as an offensive play-caller to help this QB shine, and today, he seemed to do that.
Earlier on the same possession that ended with the Wilson TD catch, Fields hit Wilson on a crossing route over the middle, and the QB fired a nice completion . . .
Aaron Glenn is impressed with how Fields deals with the “outside noise,” which can sometimes be negative about his play.
“There’s so much outside noise that tries to beat him down and he’s so mature and he doesn’t allow that to be a factor on how he’s going to go about his business,” Glenn said.
So it doesn’t sound like Fields is letting the media stat crew at practice get to him.
Training camp media practice stats are misguided . . .
Linebacker Kiko Maiugoa continues to make plays against the run. First, he stopped Braelon Allen around the line, and then on the goalline, he stopped Breece Hall for no gain.
He could really help the Jets against the run because he’s a little bigger and thicker than some of their other linebackers . . .
Arian Smith, with his world-class speed, could really help the Jets on punt coverage, where he is getting some work. Since he’s not going to start at receiver, if he’s going to be active on Sunday, he needs to play special teams, so keep an eye on him in preseason games to see if he makes some plays on punt coverage . . .
Will McDonald (back) returned to action today on a limited basis. He didn’t play full-time with the starting defense as they ease him back in.
He did have an offside penalty on one of his limited reps, but you can really see how much the Jets miss him when he’s out. The Jets don’t have any other ends who can take the edge like him.
August 7, 2025
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