The Jets will face several familiar faces from their past when they play the Titans in Week 1. Jermaine Johnson II and John Franklin-Myers, both former Jets, will try to pressure quarterback Geno Smith, who is being protected by young tackles Armand Membou and Olu Fashanu. The Titans also feature two former Giants, Wan'Dale Robinson and Cor'Dale Flott, in their passing game. Titans' rookie edge rusher David Bailey's debut will be against an underwhelming Tennessee offense, which has a below-average line and unproven tackles JC Latham and Dan Moore Jr.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-05,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
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Gang Green’s opener will feature a number of fascinating matchups, as new Tennessee coach Robert Saleh brought in a number of his old players and several others who played for his offensive coordinator, Brian Daboll, with the Giants.
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who → feature → Giants
The Post’s Zach Braziller takes a look ahead to the Week 1 showdown in Nashville:
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Braziller → take → Nashville
Take flight with the Jets
Text with Brian Costello all season as he brings Sports+ subscribers the latest Jets intel from on the field and off.
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he → take → field
tRY IT NOWProtecting Geno against former Jets
There was a time not so long ago that Jermaine Johnson II was supposed to be a Jets building block.
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II → try → Jets
The former first-round pick had 7.5 sacks in his second season in 2023.
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pick → have → 2023
Then, he tore his Achilles tendon two games into 2024 and the team traded him to the Titans for defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat in February.
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team → tear → February
Johnson, along with another former Jet, John Franklin-Myers, will be hoping to make quarterback Geno Smith’s life difficult next Sunday.
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life → hop → Jet
It won’t be easy for that duo going up against young offensive tackles Armand Membou and Olu Fashanu.
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duo → go → tackles
The duo is a big part of what the Jets feel is a strong offensive line.
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Jets → feel → ?
Membou, in particular, has been receiving ample praise throughout the summer after a quality rookie season.
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Membou → receive → season
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.
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Titans → play → Daboll
Ironically, Robinson is likely going to see former Titan Jarvis Brownlee Jr. for much of the day.
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Robinson → go → day
Brownlee, acquired by the Jets last September, figures to be extra motivated.
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Brownlee → acquire → Jets
Brownlee has said he was hurt by the Titans trading him, especially since the front office didn’t explain the move to him.
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office → say → him
This will be his first time facing his old team.
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This → face → 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.
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Flott → have → Titans
The Jets figure to test the former third-round pick with their two talented wideouts, Garrett Wilson and Adonai Mitchell.
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Jets → figure → wideouts
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.
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who → know → NFL
Bailey debuts against underwhelming opposition
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Bailey → debut → 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.
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Bailey → look → Tech
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.
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that → pick → sacks
He could have a big opener.
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He → have → opener
Tennessee’s offensive line is considered below average, and offensive tackles JC Latham and Dan Moore Jr. are not highly regarded.
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Latham → consider → average
Latham was ranked 47th among tackles in pass blocking by Pro Football Focus, while Moore was 63rd.
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Moore → rank → Focus
The Titans allowed 56 sacks last season, sixth-most in the league.
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Titans → allow → league
Jets secondary against Ward
Cam Ward had a shaky rookie year.
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secondary → have → year
His 5.9 yards per attempt ranked dead last in the NFL.
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yards → rank → NFL
The Titans added pieces for him in Robinson and first-round pick Carnell Tate, the fourth overall selection.
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Titans → add → Robinson
The Jets, meanwhile, made history by becoming the first team to not record a single interception a year ago.
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Jets → make → interception
The topic won’t go away until they produce in that area.
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they → go → 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.
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he → add → injury
