Jets Should Feel Good About Their Defense After Preseason Showing

The New York Jets' defense, which struggled last season by failing to record an interception, improved dramatically during Week 2 of the preseason. The unit managed to intercept Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Will Howard twice, marking a significant turnaround. This performance was not the result of a single player, but rather two different members of the secondary, Andre Cisco and Samuel Womack III, both of whom contributed to the interceptions.

Cisco's interception came early in the game, demonstrating the Jets' secondary's ability to make aggressive plays that can influence the outcome of a game. Womack, a 27-year-old journeyman, also secured an interception, proving that the defense has the right personnel in place to create turnovers. The Jets' defense was recently labeled as a "winner" in the preseason by CBS Sports, a recognition that is well-deserved.

However, it is premature to claim that the issue has been fully resolved, as one preseason game cannot erase the challenges faced during the regular 2025 season. While the improvement is promising, the defense still has its work cut out for it.