A preseason game between the Jets and the Giants has been a fixture of the schedule since the teams' first meeting -- at the Yale Bowl in New Haven, CT, on Aug. 17, 1969. The Jets were coming off their seminal victory in Super Bowl III, and then defeated the establishment Giants, 37-14, a loss that cost Big Blue coach Allie Sherman his job ... in the preseason.
So while the game is an annual affair, the often competitive and, at times, contentious, joint practices between the teams have been less frequent over the years. Before HC Brian Daboll's arrival in East Rutherford, the teams had not held a joint practice for 17 years. Since 2022, the Jets and Giants have "chewed it over" and "mixed it up" in three of the past four years (there was no joint practice in 2023).
And this year -- on Tuesday and Wednesday -- will be unique. On Tuesday, the teams will meet at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center in Florham Park. Then on Wednesday, the Green & White will take a bus ride to the Giants' facility in the shadow of MetLife Stadium, which the teams share.
Another twist to the two-day meeting between the teams, is the relationship between Daboll and Jets HC Aaron Glenn. In the previous two preseasons, the Giants and the Lions (where Glenn was the DC) met for joint practices -- in Detroit in 2023 and last year in New Jersey before they faced each other in preseason games.
Looking ahead to the sessions, Glenn said last week: "I think the players really enjoy that because they go against somebody different than their own guys. And you get a chance to test yourself against some of the other elite players in this league. I mean, I'm looking forward to seeing [WR Malik] Nabers, I'm looking forward to seeing [QB] Russell [Wilson].
"I'm looking forward to seeing all those guys. That D-line they have, now I know our O-line is looking forward to competing against those guys. So, to get a chance to go against another team with really good athletes, really good players, like that's what you look forward to. And you look forward to seeing how your team is going to operate in stressful situations, because it is. I mean, we're going out there for one thing, it's to get better. Period. It's the only reason that we're doing this is to get better against another team, and I look forward to that."
Jets CB Sauce Gardner said: "I don't really get excited about all the rah-rah in joint practices. Always fights and stuff like that. I don't understand why we got pads on and people [will] be punching each other in the helmets and stuff like that. I wouldn't do that. I'm not trying to hurt my hand. But that's what happens. But the competitive part of it ... I love joint practices for sure."
Here's a look at a few of the most interesting expected matchups during the joint practices:
CB Sauce Gardner vs. WR Malik Nabers: The prospect of the No. 4 overall selection in the 2022 NFL Draft (Gardner) vying to stop the No. 6 overall pick in 2024 is a juicy one in practices and the game. There's no telling how long (or if) the two will battle in the game, but the joint practices are another story. Nabers was fifth in voting for the Associated Press' Offensive Rookie of the Year, made the Pro Bowl, and caught 109 passes for 1,205 yards (11 yards per). Gardner recently signed a contract extension and has emerged as a mature leader under new HC Aaron Glenn.
"I mean, he can do a lot of things," Gardner said of Nabers. "He's got great hands. He's a great, elite route runner. He kind of reminds me of myself a little bit like he came in the league and immediately established himself as one of the top guys. So that's my guy. He's cool outside of football and things like that as well. So it's just great seeing him still stay humble with all the success coming his way. But when you get on the field and he's making plays he makes them pay. So, you know, I'm looking forward to it. I'm a competitor."
RT Armand Membou vs. Edge Brian Burns: Membou, the Jets' top pick this past April, will face an early test against Burns (6-5, 250), a tenacious player off the edge who will be entering his second season with the Giants after 5 seasons with the Panthers. Burns started and played in all 17 games last season, had 8.5 sacks, 9 QB hits and 71 tackles. In his limited time on the field at Green Bay on Saturday night, Membou (6-4, 332) held his ground, did not allow a sack and helped the Jets put together a strong ground game from the get-go. The early reviews were all positive. Membou has the size, deft footwork and strength to help lock down the strong side of the Jets' offensive line.
S Andre Cisco vs. QB Russell Wilson: Wilson, the 13-year veteran, played sparingly in the Giants' win at Buffalo in the midday heat on Saturday. After a season in Pittsburgh, he signed on as a free agent with the Giants and is expected to be the starter once the regular season begins in early September. Across his NFL career (Seattle, Denver and Pittsburgh), Wilson has thrown for 6,001 yards, 350 TDs, 11 INT. In addition, he has rambled for 5,462 yards and 31 rushing TDs. Cisco, who signed in free agency with the Jets after 4 seasons with Jacksonville, is a rangy ballhawk who will be looking for takeaways for a backfield off to a strong summer start. He is also a tenacious tackler (229 with the Jags).
WR Garrett Wilson vs. CBs Deonte Banks/Paulson Adebo: Though he didn't catch a pass (from a single target) from QB Justin Fields in his lone series at Green Bay, Wilson is the Jets' undisputed WR1. Under HC Aaron Glenn's new regime, and with a contract extension in his pocket, Wilson has a solid pedigree after he has eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards in each of his three NFL seasons. His connection with Fields from their days at Ohio State cannot be underestimated. Banks (6-2) is a couple of inches taller than Wilson and has made 2 INTs in his 2 seasons with the Giants. Adebo (6-1), a third-round selection of the Saints in the 2021 NFL Draft, signed with the Giants in free agency. He was limited to 7 games last season after sustaining a broken femur (thighbone).
LT Olu Fashanu vs. DL Abdul Carter: Fashanu and Carter are no strangers to butting heads, hands and bodies in practice situations -- they were both stars at Penn State. Carter (6-4, 248) was selected No. 3 overall in this past April's draft while Fashanu (6-6, 312) was snapped up by the Jets No. 11 overall in 2024. Fashanu has said his former teammate is locked in before every play, saying he "knows where the ball is going to go, pre-snap, every play." Fashanu, along with Membou, is one of the potential long-term Jets bookends at tackle. He slid over to LT after injury ended Tryon Smith's 2024 season and played well protecting the quarterback's blind side. Now he'll face his frenemy for three days in the coming week. Carter, who can play at multiple spots along the defensive line, played three seasons for the Nittany Lions, and as a junior he had 12 sacks, 66 pressures, 37 solo tackles and 24 TFL. In his final college season, Carter was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and was a unanimous All-American before declaring for the NFL Draft. He finished his college career with 23 sacks and 39.5 TFL.
