The New York Jets returned to the field on Sunday for a showdown with the Green Bay Packers. The Jets looked to open up their season at home the same way they did last week, with a win. The Jets came out and absolutely dominated the Tennessee Titans. Fast forward a week, and it looked like Gang Green was in a great spot to open the season 2-0 for the first time in nearly a decade. Unfortunately, a monumental fourth-quarter collapse and a huge lack of a ground game led to the Packers winning by three points in overtime.
The Jets had everything they wanted and more in Week 1 against the Titans. Unfortunately, Week 2 proved to be the complete opposite. Breece Hall and the Jets’ ground game were a complete non-factor. Hall only rushed for 29 yards on 16 carries, which led the team. Yikes. Then add in all the challenges head coach Aaron Glenn gave the Jets with his poor time-management skills, and it was a recipe for disaster. So, which three Jets deserve praise in this disheartening Week 2 loss?
Offense: Adonai Mitchell, WR
In Week 1 against the Titans, Adonai Mitchell hauled in three receptions for 60 yards. Fast forward a week to the Jets game with the Packers, and Adonai Mitchell may have been the most consistent player through the first two games. He has quietly played the WR2 role perfectly, a role we’re not too used to seeing played well in recent memory, looking at you, Allen Lazard. However, Adonai Mitchell has proven to be a viable second option to Garrett Wilson, taking some of the pressure off of Wilson.
In Week 2, Mitchell hauled in a game-best six receptions for 63 yards. He was targeted on 12 plays, quickly establishing himself as one of Geno’s favorite targets. His 12 targets were the most on the team – almost double Wilson’s seven targets. He was the target on many ‘got to have it’ third downs, continuing to show that Smith is putting a lot of trust in him. He delivered on those plays, helping to keep the Jets alive and on the field longer.
In the offseason, Mitchell had a lot of hype. When he came over to the Jets last season, he made an impact fairly quickly. Now, in his first full season with the team, Mitchell has shown that the hype is indeed real. He’s a breath of fresh air in the Jets receiving corps room, a room that may not have always been filled with a lot of talent. Mitchell hasn’t put up the most numbers, but he has looked the part as a No. 2 wide receiver.
Defense: Azareye’h Thomas, CB
Azareye’h Thomas has been thriving at the cornerback spot. Quite the difference from last year. With Sauce Gardner no longer a factor for the Jets in their cornerback room, Thomas was going to have to step up, and he did just that. He may have been the best pure player on the field in Sunday’s game against Green Bay. Thomas finished the game with two tackles, both solos, one tackle for loss, and a major pass defended. He had one of the three Jets’ passes defended, playing a crucial role.
Thomas is starting to blossom into the team’s best cornerback. With Brandon Stephens not locking receivers down and D’Angelo Ponds on the mend, Thomas allowing one catch for -1 yard might make him the Jets’ defensive MVP of the game. Thomas not only broke up a pass on a big third down and managed to hold his own against a very talented Green Bay wide receiver room, but he has also proven his value as one of the better tacklers on the team.
AZ 💪
📺: #GBvsNYJ on FOX pic.twitter.com/HMEMG34Tkp
— New York Jets (@nyjets) September 20, 2026
Thomas made a few very impressive run stops and broke up a pass. Even his penalty may have been an under thrown deep ball rather than a poor play on his part. In just his seventh career start, Thomas had perhaps the best game of his career. The Jets put a ton of trust in Thomas by not choosing to spend a ton of money on an outside cornerback in the offseason and rolling with him as the starter. If Thomas can replicate how he played against Green Bay for the rest of the season, the Jets could end up feeling much better about the long-term health of the secondary.
Special Teams: Qwan’tez Stiggers, CB
Holy moly. What a poor game on Special Teams for the Jets. Sure, Jason Sanders didn’t do bad. He made one field goal and connected on both of his extra point attempts. Austin McNamara tallied 344 yards in seven punts, including getting two inside the 20, but neither meant as much to the game as Qwan’tez Stiggers did. Unfortunately, the reason Stiggers meant so much to the game is that Isaiah Williams, the Jets punt returner, couldn’t do his job right.
Williams had an awful game returning punts. Sure, he didn’t have a bad game as a receiver. But as a punt returner, yikes. Entering this game, the Jets were expected to have the edge on special teams, but that wasn’t the case either. Isaiah Williams muffed two punts but was saved by Qwan’tez Stiggers, who recovered both. Those mishaps forced the Jets offense to start inside the 20-yard line. Stiggers played his part in recovering both punts and saving the Jets team.
Another clutch play on specials from Qwan’tez Stiggers to recover and down the ball on the 5 yard line. pic.twitter.com/7tOu5STghH
— Glenn Naughton (@JNRadio_Glenn) September 20, 2026
Not only did Williams struggle to hold onto the ball, but there were several penalties by the special teams that also pushed the offense back. The special teams problems continued. Arian Smith missed a tackle on Skyy Moore during a punt, as New York was up 17-14 with 4:42 left in the fourth, and that resulted in a 63-yard return. For a team that needs every edge they can get, special teams was supposed to be one of them, but they dropped the ball. Thankfully, Stiggers, both figuratively and literally, picked the ball up.
