PITTSBURGH, United States — Geno Smith made a brief but highly efficient return to preseason action Friday night, throwing a touchdown pass on his only series as the New York Jets defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 17-0. Smith completed all seven of his attempts and helped the Jets finish their opening drive with a touchdown before leaving the game.
- Geno Smith went 7-for-7 for 65 yards and threw a touchdown in his lone series.
- The Jets defeated the Steelers 17-0 in Pittsburgh on Friday night.
- New York’s defense intercepted Pittsburgh quarterback Will Howard twice in the first half.
- Rookie edge rusher David Bailey recorded an 11-yard sack of Howard in the opening quarter.
Geno Smith makes perfect preseason appearance
Smith started the game after missing the Jets’ preseason opener because of a sore left ankle. The veteran quarterback wasted little time showing that he was ready to return, directing New York on a 69-yard scoring drive.
The drive ended when Smith flipped the ball to a wide-open Jelani Woods, who completed the final 13 yards for the touchdown. Smith finished the series with a perfect passing line, completing seven attempts for 65 yards.
Friday’s appearance is expected to be Smith’s only preseason action. The 13-year veteran joined the Jets in March after being acquired from the Las Vegas Raiders, returning to the franchise where he played from 2013 through 2016.
Jets defense shows signs of improvement
While Smith’s efficient opening series provided an early boost, New York’s defense delivered the most encouraging performance of the night. The unit had struggled badly during the 2025 season, when the Jets finished 3-14.
The defense consistently prevented Pittsburgh’s young quarterbacks from finding a rhythm. Rookie edge rusher David Bailey, selected second overall in this year’s draft, made an immediate impact by bringing down Will Howard for an 11-yard loss during the first quarter.
New York also produced turnovers, an area that had been a major weakness during the previous regular season. The Jets intercepted Howard twice during the first half while Pittsburgh was driving inside New York territory.
Jets finally get interceptions
The interceptions were particularly significant because New York’s defense failed to record a single interception throughout the entire 2025 regular season. That made the Jets the first team since the NFL began tracking the statistic in 1933 to finish a full season without an interception.
Andre Cisco produced the first takeaway by stepping in front of a poorly thrown pass from Howard intended for Roman Wilson. Cisco returned the interception 23 yards, ending another Pittsburgh possession in New York territory.
Samuel Womack added the second interception with another strong play on a pass intended for Wilson. The turnover came while the Steelers were again moving into Jets territory and helped New York maintain control of the game.
Steelers’ young quarterbacks struggle
Howard and Drew Allar received the entire workload at quarterback for Pittsburgh because Aaron Rodgers and longtime backup Mason Rudolph did not play. The two young quarterbacks had made impressive debuts one week earlier but could not reproduce that performance against New York.
Howard faced particular difficulty against the Jets defense. His two interceptions came while Pittsburgh was attempting to sustain drives, and Bailey’s sack added further pressure to his night.
Allar also struggled to generate the offensive production needed to put Pittsburgh on the scoreboard. The Steelers ultimately finished the game without a point as New York’s defense maintained its shutout.
Smith’s return adds to Jets quarterback picture
For New York, Smith’s short appearance provided a clean evaluation opportunity after he missed the first preseason game. His seven completions on seven attempts allowed the Jets to move the ball efficiently without exposing him to an extended workload.
The touchdown drive also gave the Jets an early lead that their defense protected for the remainder of the game. With Smith expected to sit out the rest of the exhibition schedule, his opening series offered a concise glimpse of the offense ahead of the regular season.
More importantly for New York, the defense showed signs of correcting one of its biggest problems from last season. The Jets not only pressured Pittsburgh’s young quarterbacks but also created turnovers, producing two interceptions in a single half after going through all of 2025 without one.
Jets take confidence from shutout win
The 17-0 victory gave New York a strong preseason result on both sides of the ball. Smith was perfect during his limited appearance, while the defense produced the turnovers and pressure that had been missing during last year’s difficult campaign.
For Pittsburgh, the game provided a tougher test for Howard and Allar after their encouraging preseason debuts. With Rodgers and Rudolph sitting out, the young quarterbacks were unable to match their previous production against a Jets defense that appeared far more aggressive and opportunistic.
Praveen Yadav is the Founder and Content Creator of The Nation Bulletin, an independent digital news platform focused on delivering timely, reliable and meaningful news from India and around the world.
