Geno Smith made his return to the field in impressive fashion Friday night, helping the New York Jets cruise past the Pittsburgh Steelers 17-0 in their preseason matchup at Acrisure Stadium. Smith needed only one series to make his presence felt, delivering a nearly flawless performance in his first game action with the Jets this preseason.
Smith completed all seven of his pass attempts for 65 yards and a touchdown. He capped a 10 play, 69-yard opening drive with a 13 yard touchdown pass to tight end Jelani Woods, giving the Jets an early 7-0 lead.
The veteran quarterback showed excellent accuracy and command throughout the drive, repeatedly finding his receivers to move the chains. Smith also displayed good pocket awareness when pressure came his way, helping New York maintain its momentum and finish the opening possession in the end zone.
The performance was especially encouraging after Smith missed the Jets’ preseason opener while dealing with an ankle issue. His return against Pittsburgh provided an important opportunity to build chemistry with his new teammates and gain valuable reps before the regular season.
Smith’s strong outing also helped ease concerns surrounding the Jets’ offense after some inconsistent moments during training camp. The Jets wanted to see the veteran operate the offense efficiently, and Smith delivered exactly that in his limited action.
Although Smith’s night lasted only one drive, it was difficult to ask for much more. He was perfect through the air, led the Jets to a touchdown and exited with New York in control.
For a player preparing to lead a new look Jets offense, Smith’s return against Pittsburgh was an encouraging first step.
