Geno Smith may already be making Frank Reich, Jets look bad

First-year New York Jets offensive coordinator Frank Reich raised eyebrows when he said he felt 35-year-old quarterback Geno Smith "is in his prime physically." 

It appears that Smith failed to impress during joint practices with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers ahead of Friday's preseason matchup involving those clubs. 

Geno Smith doesn't seem to be in desired midseason form

"This wasn’t a great couple of practices for Geno Smith," Connor Hughes of SNY shared on Wednesday. "He was 10-of-16 with a touchdown and two interceptions on Tuesday. He was 10-of-17 with a touchdown on Wednesday. The first score was a brilliant play by (wide receiver) Garrett Wilson, who caught a deflected pass at the line, juked four Bucs defenders, and fought his way in. The second was a slant to (tight end) Mason Taylor from five yards out. Both came in red-zone work."

Reich and others within the Jets had seemed encouraged by how Smith looked throughout training camp. Unlike with other situations around the league, there is no quarterback controversy regarding the Jets. Smith is on track to serve as the undisputed starter for the club's Week 1 game at the Tennessee Titans as long as he is healthy.

"The aggressiveness touted with Smith in the first couple weeks of camp disappeared against the Bucs," Hughes continued. "The vast majority of his throws came within five or six yards of the line. That might have had to do with [Tampa Bay head coach Todd Bowles'] scheme, but you hoped for some more chance plays with the Jets emphasizing explosives (last in the NFL a season ago in pass plays of 20-plus yards). The interceptions for Smith were both poor throws. One was telegraphed to Josiah Trotter. The other went right to Damarion Williams. Wilson fell on the route, but Williams was in position whether he was standing or not."

Certain NFL experts have low expectations for Geno Smith ahead of 2026 season

Smith committed the second-most turnovers in the NFL last season while with the Las Vegas Raiders, even though he appeared in just 15 games. He also tossed a league-worst 17 interceptions. 

Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk noted that DraftKings Sportsbook had Smith as the betting favorite at +950 odds to be the league leader in interceptions for a second straight season. San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy was second on the list at +1000 odds at that time. 

"There are a lot of reasons to think Smith will throw a lot of interceptions," Michael David Smith wrote. "The obvious one is his own history, as the reigning league leader in picks. Another is that the Jets are expected to be a bad team this year, which means Smith will often be throwing the ball in desperation mode in the fourth quarter. And if Smith struggles, the Jets don’t have a great option to bench him for: The other quarterbacks on the roster are Bailey Zappe, Brady Cook and rookie fourth-round pick Cade Klubnik. The Jets might want to get a look at Klubnik at some point this season, but it would probably be late in the year if it happens at all."

Jets head coach Aaron Glenn could find himself in danger of losing his job if he waits until "late in the year" to turn to Klubnik in the event that Smith is as bad as some fear the veteran will be when the games begin to matter in September.