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Don’t let the shorts and T-shirts fool you into mistaking a Jets practice for a vacation at Club Med.
During the spring season, NFL regulations prohibit the use of pads and any live physical contact, but new head coach Aaron Glenn still manages to instill a sense of intensity in his players.
There were two skirmishes after the whistle — neither escalated to fisticuffs — during Tuesday’s OTAs. Glenn stopped practice at one point.
Despite the constraints, Glenn observed instances of players engaging in minor altercations like pushing and shoving. Although not ideal, he understands that such occurrences are part and parcel of the sport. He emphasizes the importance of maintaining focus and professionalism even in these situations.

Training camp is known to be a testing ground for players, with temperatures reaching scorching levels, daily repetitive routines, and the introduction of pads heightening the physicality. It is not uncommon for tensions to rise to a point where physical altercations, such as throwing punches, may occur.
Receiver Josh Reynolds knows the intensity Glenn is looking for after practicing against the defenses Glenn coordinated as a member of the Lions (2021-23).
“We’re going to practice with a purpose, and the purpose is to win games, the purpose is to get better, the purpose is to have detail and technique and finish,” Reynolds said. “When guys are wanting to win, yeah, it’s going to get a little chippy. It’s like a good mixture of, ‘Can we do that but still kind of be under control?’ ”
CB Sauce Gardner, DT Quinnen Williams, DE Will McDonald and DE Micheal Clemons were the most noticeable absences. All OTAs are voluntary, and mandatory minicamp begins next Tuesday.
Shortly after practice ended, Gardner was on X, reacting to a Pro Football Focus list ranking him as the No. 1 corner in the NFL.
“Them fake & forced narratives can’t stop reality. been one of them ones,” Gardner wrote, adding a shushing emoji.
As for Clemons, who has missed multiple media-viewed OTAs, Glenn balked at criticizing voluntary attendance.
“He’s been here,” Glenn said. “Other days, I’ve said we had 100 percent participation. I don’t want to paint that narrative that he hasn’t been here.”
It was Great Catch Day.
Take your pick between Garrett Wilson jumping over the back of Michael Carter II to grab a pass from QB Justin Fields, the tip-to-himself catch by Xavier Gipson from QB Tyrod Taylor, Pokey Wilson’s sideline grab through a view obstructed by a leaping defender on a layered touch pass from Taylor, and rookie Malachi Moore’s diving interception and pop-up return for a touchdown off QB Brady Cook.
Rookie second-round pick Mason Taylor is staking his claim to a starting tight end job.
“It’s the blocking that really gets me going,” Glenn said. “Because I know what he can do in the passing game. For him to come out and do the things he’s doing in the run game … the position, the body language, the leverage, I really love that when it comes to the run game.”

Owner Woody Johnson, vice chairman Christopher Johnson and general manager Darren Mougey watched practice together from the sideline.
The Jets hired senior scout/special projects TJ McCreight, pro scout JaLun Morris and college scout Bird Sherrill.