The New York Jets Prepare for their Season Opener at MetLife against the Steelers

Aaron Glenn’s players are getting ready to prepare for their Week 1 Opponent as they take on the Pittsburgh Steelers

Florham Park, NJ – All the roster spots have been made, 53 rostered players and those sixteen on the practice squad have now been selected to get ready for their opening game on Sunday, September 7th, when the New York Jets face the Pittsburgh Steelers for Week 1 of the new season at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ. This is the opening week before the fireworks begin.

Ready to Prove They Are Improved

These Jets players are ready to get out on the practice field and show what they are made of under new head coach Aaron Glenn. After going through all the OTA’s, Training Camp, and showing some positive signs in preseason, the Jets want to put out to all of the fans and to everyone in the NFL that they are ready to make that move toward a positive and reignite what this team once was in Glenn’s Vision

“It’s a little bit of a different feeling,” guard Alijah Vera-Tucker said Monday. “Game week, Week 1 — an opportunity to show not only ourselves and the fans, but the rest of the league what we want to be about and what our standard is. It’s a little bit more energy in the building, I’d say, and I think everybody’s just excited for Sunday.”

“For ourselves, it doesn’t matter what anybody else thinks,” Vera-Tucker said. “It’s just a matter of proving what we know we can do. It’s all about — since OTAs and camp — kind of building our identity as a team. And then coming in Week 1 and the rest of the season and showing that identity all year long, and then being able to keep stacking the wins and carry it forward each week.”

Players are feeling confident under Glenn

Since Head Coach Aaron Glenn took over the team, the players feel very confident that he is the man to lead them into a positive season. Of course, taking it to the next level from Training Camp to an actual week of practice is completely different, but Jamien Sherwood, who was named one of the Captains for the Jets by Glenn, is feeling confident about what’s in front of the team.

“I would say nothing changes,” Sherwood said. “From the moment that AG got here, he’s been preparing us for this moment. He’s been preparing us for Week 1. Obviously, you know, some nerves are going to be riled up for guys whose first game it is, but at the end of the day, it’s football. When we started training camp, we had our little tackling periods getting ready for this moment right here. So, nothing changes. Really, the mindset — go out there, be physical, play to the end of the whistle and don’t let up at all.”

Vera-Tucker Helping the Rookies prepare for their first NFL Game

For players like Armand Membou, Mason Taylor, Malachi Moore, Azareye’h Thomas, and others, this is their first game in their NFL careers, getting underway. The spotlight will be shining very bright on them as they know the whole country and the entire world are watching what they do. Jets fans and many others will dissect every single play they make, and now Alijah Vera-Tucker will help them prepare for that moment.

“It’s definitely a surreal feeling realizing you’re in the league about to make your first start,” Vera-Tucker recalled of his first NFL game. “I’ve been telling [Membou] just cherish the moment, that’s all it is. You were picked here for a reason. Go out there, be yourself, do what you’ve been doing for however long you’ve played football. He’s good. He’s going to be good out there.”

Justin Fields Vs. Aaron Rodgers

It’s no surprise that the biggest story of this offseason, since the 2025 schedule was announced, is that the quarterbacks who played for these two teams are now looking to battle against their former sides. Two years of Aaron Rodgers with the Jets, and last season with Justin Fields with the Steelers. All the chatter has continued on throughout social media.

Fields starts the season with Pittsburgh going 4-2, until they pulled the plug and reinserted Russell Wilson. The Jets getting back Aaron Rodgers, who went down with an Achilles tendon tear after four snaps, started strong last season, going 2-1, until the bottom fell and the coaching change that sent the season into a tailspin.

These are the days when all of us are excited, and the start of a brand new season will get underway. It might start on a Thursday night in Philadelphia as the Eagles raise their championship banner, but for the Gang Green, this coming Sunday afternoon at MetLife is where all the eyes will be looking. Watching these two teams going after each other and trying to get that first win of the season to get on the right foot.