Following the Jets’ fifth straight loss of the season this past Sunday, there have been many questions about the team. Some of these questions have been about whether or not Aaron Glenn can lead this team anywhere. I am not here to bring down the hammer on a first-time head coach after just 5 games. However, there have been a lot of questions regarding some of the players seeing consistent playing time for the team. Many have clamored that the Jets need to make changes. This is deserved criticism for Glenn and the coaching staff. On both sides of the ball, the Jets have had a few players that have generated almost nothing positive for the team in 2025. During his post-game press conference, Aaron Glenn had some intriguing words regarding player personnel: earn your keep.
“You earn your keep” pic.twitter.com/2IiMmVP79l
— New York Jets (@nyjets) October 6, 2025
“Earn Your Keep”
If Aaron Glenn truly wants to put forward a team that gives them the best chance to win every week, then the Jets must make changes.
Michael Clemons, EDGE
The Jets’ EDGE room has not played well at all. Players like Braiden McGregor and Tyler Baron have been underwhelming to say the least. However, none have been as consistently negative as Michael Clemons. Clemons was a holdover from the previous regime. He was drafted out of Texas A&M in the fourth round of the 2022 draft. He’s been nothing but a rotational player ever since he was drafted, totaling 7 career sacks and 48 total pressures, according to PFF. However, he has been thrusted into a starting role with Jermaine Johnson being out since Week 2. It has been nothing short of an utter catastrophe. Clemons has 4 pressures, 0 QB hits, and 0 sacks in 5 games this season. That’s less pressures than games played! He hasn’t helped in the run game either as he’s posting a rough 57.5 run defense grade. If the coaching staff wants to win, Clemons should almost never see the field for the foreseeable future. This goes for when Johnson is back to being healthy as well; it’s been that bad.
Bunch of issues for the Jets defense right now but one issue that’s been discussed over the last 18 month is the usage of Michael Clemons… numbers back up just how much of a net negative he is:
MC on the field: .238 EPA (174 plays)
MC off the field: .023 EPA (130 Plays)Oof.
— Will Parkinson (@Willpa11) October 7, 2025
Jeremy Ruckert, TE
The talk of the town regarding the Jets’ TE room has been the rookie Mason Taylor. He’s excelled as the 2nd target in the offense. The listed starter at the position when the season began has not fared as well however. Jeremy Ruckert was another member of the 2022 draft class, picked in the third round out of Ohio State. He, along with Clemons, has not panned out. He has 336 career receiving yards and has posted run blocking grades of under 60 in 3 straight seasons now counting the 5 games played thus far. Here’s a taste at that brutal run blocking as he pretty much prevents a touchdown here:
Still a great run through messy blocking but kind of sad to realize that 2022 Hall would’ve had the explosion to score on this pic.twitter.com/aLRV2eu0NO
— Michael Nania (@Michael_Nania) October 6, 2025
He is now a non-factor in an offense that could use more reliable pass catchers. The Jets need to make a change. They should look to play depth pieces Stone Smartt and Jelani Woods over Ruckert.
Tony Adams, S
Moving back to the defense, the back end has been just as bad as the front. Starting safety Tony Adams has been simply bad this year. Adams was a UFDA success story for the Jets, signed in 2022 out of Illinois. He is a success story no more though. He currently boasts run defense, coverage, and tackling grades under 60 on PFF in 4 games played this season. Echoing back to Glenn’s quote, the Jets should look elsewhere if they want the best chance to win. Rookie safety Malachi Moore should move into a starting safety role. Moore played a lot of nickel cornerback this past Sunday, and struggled a little bit. With starting nickel Michael Carter II still out, the Jets should play recently acquired Jarvis Brownlee Jr. in that spot, move Moore back up top, and bench Adams.
The Jets desperately need to turn their season around. Not for playoff aspirations, those are dashed, but to bring life back into the organization. It’s time for the Jets to make changes, and it’s time for players to “earn their keep”.
Main Image: Vincent Carchietta – Imagn Images
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