Jets' Glenn defends Clemons amid costly penalties

Florham Park, N.J. — Jets coach Aaron Glenn defended defensive end Micheal Clemons on Wednesday, saying the fourth-year player has contributed in ways not captured by statistics as New York navigates a rocky start to the season and a growing penalties issue. Glenn referenced Clemons’ role in the defense and the broader responsibilities he accepts, insisting the team knows what Clemons brings to the field even when the stat sheet does not.

Through two games, Clemons has recorded just one assisted tackle across 72 defensive snaps, according to Pro Football Focus. He has not registered a pressure, a quarterback hit or a sack, and his PFF grade of 45.4 ranks ninth-worst among NFL edge rushers so far this season. The numbers align with the Jets’ on-field struggles at times, but Glenn stressed there is more to the game than what the box score shows.

There could be a window of opportunity for Clemons to take on additional snaps if Jermaine Johnson — who did not practice Wednesday because of an ankle injury — cannot play Sunday. Glenn downplayed that possibility, saying Clemons “will see the role that we’ve been giving him for the whole time he’s been here.” Nevertheless, the head coach emphasized that Clemons’ value cannot be reduced to tackles or sacks alone and that the team needs him to continue performing the assignments it asks of him, even if those duties aren’t always reflected in the official stats.

Clemons’ punishment profile has drawn attention. In Sunday’s loss to the Bills, he was called for roughing the passer after colliding with Josh Allen as the Bills quarterback released an incomplete pass on third down. Earlier in the preseason, he drew an unnecessary roughness penalty in the aftermath of a skirmish with a Packers opponent. After the game, Clemons told The Post’s Brian Costello that he had tried to deliver a clean hit, adding, “I did my best to hit him clean. I have to look at it and observe it, but they threw the flag at the end of the day.”

Meanwhile, Sauce Gardner viewed his upcoming matchup with Buccaneers star Mike Evans as a prime opportunity. Gardner noted Evans’ longevity in the league and said he relishes such matchups. “That’s what [Gardner] lives for, is those matchups,” cornerback Brandon Stephens told The Post. This week marks the first time the Jets have faced Tampa Bay since drafting Gardner in 2022.

On the Jets’ availability front, several players did not practice Wednesday, including safety Tony Adams (hip), receiver Josh Reynolds (hamstring), cornerback Michael Carter II (shoulder), quarterback Justin Fields (concussion), running back Kene Nwangwu (hamstring), defensive lineman Jay Tufele (illness) and guard/linebacker Johnson. Linebacker Marcelino McCrary-Ball was limited, while safety Andre Cisco (shoulder), linebacker Kiko Mauigoa (elbow) and Gardner (groin) practiced fully. For the Buccaneers, rookie receiver Emeka Egbuka — who has caught three touchdown passes in his first two NFL games — did not practice due to hip and groin injuries.

The Jets return their attention to a pivotal early-season test, balancing Clemons’ development with the need to minimize penalties and maximize everyone’s contribution on the field. Glenn’s defense of Clemons underscores a broader question for New York: can the Jets convert potential into consistent, productive play as the season unfolds, even when the results aren’t always immediately visible in the stat line?