PITTSBURGH (AP) — Geno Smith capped a perfect one-series cameo by throwing for a touchdown and the New York Jets picked off a pair of passes in a 17-0 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Friday night.
Smith, who sat out New York’s preseason opener with a sore left ankle, started and drove the Jets 69 yards to the end zone, the last 13 coming on a flip to a wide-open Jelani Woods. Smith, who played for the Jets from 2013 to 2016 and was acquired from Las Vegas in March, went 7 for 7 for 65 yards on the drive in what will likely be the 13-year veteran’s lone exhibition appearance.
New York’s defense, a major weakness during a 3-14 slog in 2025, kept young Pittsburgh quarterbacks Will Howard and Drew Allar in check. Jets rookie edge rusher David Bailey, the second overall pick in this year’s draft, dropped Howard for an 11-yard loss in the first quarter.
Perhaps even more promising for New York, the defense also found a way to catch the ball, something that didn’t happen at all during the regular season a year ago when the Jets became the first team since the NFL started tracking the statistic in 1933 to go an entire year without a single pick.
New York intercepted Howard twice in the first half with the Steelers driving in New York territory.
PANTHERS 34, JAGUARS 17
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Bryce Young had much more success in his second game of the preseason, going 5 of 6 for 49 yards passing and setting up a touchdown in Carolina’s victory over Jacksonville.
The game was suspended because of lightning in the area with 2 minutes left on the clock, but both coaches agreed to end it instead of waiting the mandatory 30 minutes before resuming play.
It was essentially over long before then.
Young directed a 58-yard scoring drive on the team’s second possession, picking up five first downs — five more than he had in three series at Buffalo last week. Jonathon Brooks capped the drive with 1-yard touchdown run.
It was a clear step forward for Young and Carolina’s first-team offense, which were no-shows against the Bills. The Panthers managed 11 yards in three drives in Buffalo, with Young misfiring twice and getting sacked on three third-down plays.
Scoring against the Jaguars should give third-year head coach Dave Canales enough confidence to sit Young and other starters next week in the team’s preseason finale against Houston.
The Jaguars, meanwhile, held out all their starters for the second straight week and have no plans to play quarterback Trevor Lawrence, two-way star Travis Hunter or any other first-teamers in their final exhibition next week against Tampa Bay.
PACKERS 33, BRONCOS 13
DENVER (AP) — Bo Nix ’s 21-yard touchdown toss to R.J. Harvey two plays after hooking up with new speedster Jaylen Waddle for 35 yards highlighted the Denver quarterback’s return successful return from a broken ankle in the Broncos’ 33-13 loss to the Green Bay Packers on Friday night.
Nix’s second and final series ended with a 53-yard field goal from Wil Lutz, but Pierre Strong Jr. returned the ensuing kickoff 68 yards, setting up Trey Smack’s first of four field goals, a 51-yarder that tied it at 10.
Nix completed 6 of 9 passes for 76 yards and the touchdown in his first live action for the Broncos since breaking his right ankle against Buffalo in the playoffs seven months ago. He underwent surgery in January and had a follow-up procedure to remove bone spurs in the spring.
The Packers snapped Denver’s eight-game winning streak in the preseason.
Jordan Love drove Green Bay on a 12-play, 63-yard touchdown drive in his only series, which he capped with an 11-yard touchdown throw to Lloyd for a 7-0 lead.
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