Week 1 will bring more than a standard Jets-Titans matchup in Nashville. It will also double as a reunion game, with the Jets set to face several familiar names from their own past — and a few former Giants connections as well. New Tennessee head coach Robert Saleh has stocked his roster with players he knows well, while others arrive with ties to Titans offensive coordinator Brian Daboll from his time with the Giants.
The Post’s Zach Braziller previews the key storylines and matchups to watch when the Jets open the season against the Titans:
Protecting Geno against former Jets
Not long ago, Jermaine Johnson II looked like a foundational piece for the Jets’ defense. The former first-round pick broke through with 7.5 sacks in his second NFL season in 2023, but his trajectory changed quickly after he suffered a torn Achilles just two games into the 2024 campaign. In February, the Jets dealt him to Tennessee in a trade for defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat. Now Johnson, alongside another ex-Jet in John Franklin-Myers, will be aiming to disrupt quarterback Geno Smith in next Sunday’s opener.
That assignment will be far from simple, with the pair expected to test young Jets offensive tackles Armand Membou and Olu Fashanu.
Membou and Fashanu are central to the Jets’ confidence in what they believe can be a sturdy offensive line. Membou, especially, has drawn steady praise throughout the summer after putting together a strong rookie season. Both tackles also bring a measure of familiarity with Johnson, adding another layer of intrigue to one of the opener’s most compelling battles.
Jets against former Giants in the passing game
Two key Titans played for the Giants last season with Daboll: slot receiver Wan’Dale Robinson and No. 2 cornerback Cor’Dale Flott. Ironically, Robinson is likely going to see former Titan Jarvis Brownlee Jr. for much of the day. Brownlee, acquired by the Jets last September, figures to be extra motivated.
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Brownlee has said he was hurt by the Titans trading him, especially since the front office didn’t explain the move to him. This will be his first time facing his old team.
The 25-year-old Flott had a career-high 11 passes defensed a year ago for the Giants, and inked a three-year, $45 million deal with the Titans. The Jets figure to test the former third-round pick with their two talented wideouts, Garrett Wilson and Adonai Mitchell. Smith is known to push down the field, and the Jets may prefer to target Flott than the Titans’ top cornerback, Alontae Taylor, who is regarded as one of the better young defensive backs in the NFL.
Bailey debuts against underwhelming opposition
Jets rookie edge rusher David Bailey was one of the stories of training camp, the second overall draft pick out of Texas Tech looking every bit as dominant as projected. When the Jets picked Bailey, the hope was he could elevate a pass rush that was 31st in the league a year ago with a paltry 26 sacks. He could have a big opener. Tennessee’s offensive line is considered below average, and offensive tackles JC Latham and Dan Moore Jr. are not highly regarded.
Latham was ranked 47th among tackles in pass blocking by Pro Football Focus, while Moore was 63rd. The Titans allowed 56 sacks last season, sixth-most in the league.
Jets secondary against Ward
Cam Ward had a shaky rookie year. His 5.9 yards per attempt ranked dead last in the NFL. The Titans added pieces for him in Robinson and first-round pick Carnell Tate, the fourth overall selection. The Jets, meanwhile, made history by becoming the first team to not record a single interception a year ago. The topic won’t go away until they produce in that area. They added veteran safety Minkah Fitzpatrick in free agency to solidify the secondary and also drafted Indiana standout cornerback D’Angelo Ponds, although he hasn’t practiced since the first day of training camp due to a calf injury.