New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn was unhappy with his team’s performance in a preseason game against the New York Giants, so he let his players run their walkthrough practice.
Matt Ludtke | AP Photo
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Aaron Glenn was unhappy with the New York Jets’ performance in their preseason loss to the Giants last Saturday night and insisted his squad would get things cleaned up in a hurry.
So, Glenn got his players together the next day for their walkthrough practice — but added a unique twist.
There were no assistant coaches involved. It was players only, with Glenn overseeing the session while quarterback Justin Fields led the offense and linebacker Jamien Sherwood the defense.
“That’s a first time for me,” safety Andre Cisco, in his fifth NFL season and first with the Jets, said Wednesday.
Wide receiver Garrett Wilson first told “Overtime” during an interview with the sports media company this week that the team got together for the player-led session on Monday — the Jets later clarified it was Sunday, a scheduled walkthrough with no media access — and “went at it” for about an hour.
Bears extend backup quarterback
LAKE FOREST, Ill. — The Chicago Bears signed backup quarterback Tyson Bagent to a two-year contract extension through the 2027 season on Wednesday.
Chicago also signed veteran running back Royce Freeman and placed running back Deion Hankins on injured reserve.
Bagent played in four games and threw two passes last season with Caleb Williams starting every game after being drafted with the No. 1 overall pick. But he’s made a big impression over two seasons.
Undrafted in 2023 following a record-setting career at Division II powerhouse Shepherd University, Bagent played in five games and made four starts while leading Chicago to two wins with Justin Fields injured. He completed 66% of his passes for 859 yards with three touchdowns and six interceptions.
Garrett avoids speeding questions
BEREA, Ohio — Myles Garrett was expected to become a more vocal leader for the Cleveland Browns after signing a four-year contract extension worth $204.8 million in March.
However, Garrett was quiet in his first comments since picking up his eighth speeding ticket since being drafted by the Browns in 2017.
“I’d honestly rather talk about football and this team than anything I’m doing off field other than the back to school event that I did the other day,” Garrett said on Wednesday.
Garrett was asked a couple of other times about being cited for driving a Ferrari 100 mph on a suburban Cleveland interstate on Aug. 9. It got contentious when the All-Pro defensive end was asked what kind of leadership it showed to be pulled over for speeding shortly after the Browns came back from a road game.
“I’ve answered it two different times. I’m going to need you to ask a different question so I can focus on this team and not, you know, this headline you’re trying to get out of these questions you’re asking,” Garrett said.
In 2022, Garrett flipped his Porsche when he veered off a rural road near his home following practice. He suffered a sprained shoulder, strained biceps, cuts and bruises in the wreck and was cited for failure to control his vehicle and unsafe speed. He missed one game because of the accident.
Falcons’ McGary injured at practice
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Atlanta Falcons right tackle Kaleb McGary was carted off the practice field with a possible lower left leg injury on Wednesday, giving the team a new challenge as it prepares for Friday night’s final preseason game at Dallas.
The Falcons provided no immediate update on the status of McGary, a 2019 first-round pick who has started 92 of 93 games.
If the Falcons are without McGary, they will have to find a new blocker to protect the blind side of left-handed quarterback Michael Penix Jr., the 2024 first-round pick who is entering his first full season as the starter.
McGary recently signed a contract extension through the 2027 season.
The Falcons’ latest depth chart listed six-year veteran Brandon Parker and rookie Jack Nelson as McGary’s top backups. Veteran Elijah Wilkinson, who has played both tackle and guard in his eight-year career, moved in to replace McGary in Wednesday’s practice.
Another backup, Storm Norton, has an undisclosed lower body injury and is not expected to play against Dallas.
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