First-year New York Jets coach Aaron Glenn believes change is the one constant in the NFL.
His team epitomizes that going into its Sunday matchup against the Cleveland Browns in East Rutherford, N.J.
No team dealt quite like New York at the Tuesday trading deadline. The Jets sent star cornerback Sauce Gardner to the Indianapolis Colts for two first-round picks and wide receiver Adonai Mitchell, then moved defensive tackle Quinnen Williams to the Dallas Cowboys for a first-round selection, a second-rounder and defensive tackle Mazi Smith.
At 1-7, the Jets are all but assured of missing the playoffs for the 15th straight season. The immediate present could be pretty rough without the likes of Gardner and Williams, but the future might be bright if New York can choose the right players.
The Jets now own two first-round picks and two seconds in the 2026 draft, as well as three first-round choices in 2027.
“I want this to be a team that the fans are proud of,” Glenn said Wednesday. “But again, I never said that we’re gonna be proud of them right now. Players come and go, coaches come and go. But the one thing I do know is with change, there comes opportunity.”
That opportunity includes a winnable game this week. New York stopped its 0-7 start to the season on Oct. 26 with a wild 39-38 road win over the Cincinnati Bengals as Breece Hall ran for two touchdowns and threw for the game-winner in a 23-point fourth quarter.
Hall is one guy the Jets kept at the deadline, feeling they didn’t get a good enough package from interested teams. He’s rushed for 581 yards, helping them rank third in the NFL in rushing at 143.6 yards per game.
“In my situation, if I was going to be traded, it was going to be whether I wanted it or not,” Hall said.
While New York put the figurative “For Sale” sign on its marquee, Cleveland (2-6) took a more cautious approach. Veterans such as guard Joel Bitonio and tight end David Njoku, who would have been rather useful to almost any contender, stuck around.
With their team mostly intact, aside from the trade of defensive end Joe Tryon-Shoyinka to the Chicago Bears, the Browns hope to finish strong. A playoff run is possible but not likely. However, building momentum for 2026 is a realistic goal.
One way to do it this week is to take advantage of what might be a weakened New York defensive line. Cleveland rookie running back Quinshon Judkins, on pace for a 1,000-yard season, will look to bounce back from a nine-carry, 19-yard effort at New England.
“I think it’s marrying the run and the pass but then also establishing the run early,” rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel said. “I think whenever we’re in flow and creating rhythm, we play well. So I continue to find that and find it as much as possible.”
Since taking over for the traded Joe Flacco, Gabriel has completed 59.9% of his passes but is averaging just 8.3 yards per completion. The Browns haven’t gained more than 35 yards on any pass play this year.
The Browns will have wide receiver Cedric Tillman back from injured reserve. Tillman has been out since injuring his hamstring in Week 4 against Detroit.
However, the Browns ruled out wide receiver Isaiah Bond (foot) and swing tackle Cornelius Lucas (back). Tight end Harold Fannin Jr. (hamstring) and linebacker Carson Schwesinger (ankle) were listed as questionable.
The Jets also have four players questionable: running back Khalil Herbert (groin), wide receiver Garrett Wilson (knee), offensive lineman Xavier Newman (ankle) and linebacker Kiko Mauigoa (concussion). Wilson is aiming to return from a two-game absence.
Cleveland owns a 15-14 lead in the all-time regular-season series, including a 37-20 home win in the teams’ last meeting two years ago.
–Field Level Media
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