The Jets will match up with the Giants this week for the team's only joint practices of the summer. The Green & White will host Big Blue at the Atlantic Health Training Center on Tuesday before traveling to the Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Wednesday, and the New York teams will face off in their annual preseason game on Saturday.
"To get a chance to go against another team with really good athletes, really good players, that's what you look forward to," HC Aaron Glenn said of the joint practices. "You look forward to seeing how your team is going to operate in stressful situations."
Glenn is confident there will be plenty of opportunities for evaluation with some intriguing matchups on the docket. The challenge will begin in the trenches, with a consistent and stable Jets offensive line facing a Giants defensive line that was recently projected by Pro Football Focus to be among the league's best in 2025.
"That D-line they have, now I know our O-line is looking forward to competing against those guys," Glenn said.
Several former first-round draft picks could battle it out up front. The Jets offensive line includes the No. 7 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Armand Membou, and the No. 11 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Olu Fashanu. Guard Alijah Vera-Tucker, the No. 14 overall pick in 2021, is also an integral member of the group.
The Giants defensive front includes DE Kayvon Thibodeaux (No. 5 overall in 2022) and NT Dexter Lawrence II (No. 17 overall in 2019). The defense also features two talented edges in Brian Burns (drafted No. 16 overall by the Panthers in 2019 and acquired by New York via trade) and Abdul Carter, the Giants' most recent first-round draft pick (No. 3 overall in 2025). Fashanu and Carter were college teammates at Penn State and will have the opportunity to reunite on and off the field this week.
"I mean first off, I'm just looking forward to seeing him and just congratulating him," Fashanu said of Carter during training camp. "I haven't seen him since I went to the Ohio State game last year, so definitely just want to see him, congratulate him on his success. And definitely looking forward to going against him because a player like that, he's very special. So, for me to go against him in practice, we're definitely going to get each other better."
There will be several other familiar faces on the field this week, including Giants QB Russell Wilson. QB Justin Fields and Wilson played together in Pittsburgh last year, with Fields starting the first six games and leading the team to a 4-2 start. Wilson took over as the starter after returning from a calf injury in Week 7. While Fields and Wilson competed for the Steelers' starting job last summer, both have solidified themselves as the starters for their respective New York teams in 2025 and will face each other's defenses this week.
One of the most intriguing matchups will be between former first-round draft picks CB Sauce Gardner and Giants receiver Malik Nabers. Gardner and Nabers did not see much one-on-one action during last year's summer series between the two teams, but there could be more action on the horizon. A two-time All-Pro, Gardner embraces the matchup with Nabers, who earned Pro Bowl honors as a rookie in 2024.
"He does a lot of things well," Gardner said of Nabers. "He's got great hands, he has great elite route running. He kind of reminds me of myself a little bit. He came in the league and immediately established himself as one of the top guys, so that's my guy. We're cool outside of football and things like that as well. So, you know, it's just great seeing him still stay humble with all the success coming his way, but when he gets on the field and he's making those plays, you're going to know he's making those plays. I'm looking forward to it. I'm a competitor, and I know he is as well. So, I'm looking forward to it for sure."
Nabers told reporters at Giants training camp last week: "I'm just happy to go against him and get some other guys in practice to try to compete with. I know he's a very good corner, and I'm just excited to go against him another year."
Glenn said he and Giants HC Brian Daboll will work together to determine the pace and structure of practice, but the priority will be keeping players safe while also encouraging healthy competition. As the Jets continue to prepare for the regular season, a challenging week against a cross-town neighbor is the next key step in the process.
"We're going out there for one thing: to get better. Period," Glenn said. "It's the only reason that we're doing this -- is to get better against another team. And I look forward to that."
