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The 2026 Jets are better than the 2025 Jets in many areas. But one part of the game where it feels like the Jets have taken a step back this year is in the return game.
The Jets had a dynamic return game last year with Isaiah Williams and Kene Nwangwu. Williams returned two punts for touchdowns, and Nwangwu returned a kickoff for a touchdown. Each of them had a score in the team’s win over the Browns last year.
This season, the results are not there. Nwangwu has been battling injuries, but even when he’s healthy, the return game has not looked the same. The Jets’ longest kick return this year is 36 yards, and the longest punt return is 20 yards.
Jets coach Aaron Glenn said they know it’s an area for improvement.
“We want to make sure we get back to that as soon as we can because that helps every part of our football team,” Glenn said. “Like last year, it was just a year that I thought our guys, we were just on it. We were hitting it from all different angles, and this year has been tough. Number one, guys understand the other team, so they try to do things to try to negate our return situation. Again, I have full confidence that we’ll get back to it. The thing is we just have to strain to finish on those blocks and let our runners run.”
Williams said teams have approached them differently this year and are clearly focused on preventing Williams and Nwangwu from having big returns. Still, Williams believes they are going to break one soon.
“I think we’re very close,” Williams said. “I think the biggest thing for us is to continue to do what we do every week. We need to keep practicing, keep putting in the time, focusing on the little details. We know that we have the ability. We know we have the guys. It’s just about executing it on Sundays.”
The Jets placed LB Kiko Mauigoa on injured reserve Saturday.
They signed LB Jaden Keller to the active roster and elevated OT Brant Banks and LB Troy Reeder from the practice squad for Sunday’s game with the Dolphins.