Jets OC Tanner Engstrand targets eight explosive plays per game after Week 1

Tanner Engstrand, the New York Jets' offensive coordinator, said Thursday he wants his offense to generate at least eight explosive plays every game — and by that measure the team exceeded his mark in Week 1.

The Jets produced 11 explosive plays in the opener and totaled 32 points and 394 yards, numbers that would have been outliers a season ago. Engstrand counts explosive plays as passes of 16 or more yards and runs of 12 or more yards and said the goal is designed to increase the percentage of scoring drives.

"We are always shooting for eight," Engstrand said Thursday. "The more explosives you get, the higher [the] percentage of scoring drives, and so we’re always hunting those explosives. Again, something we have talked about since Day 1 here. The more explosives that you can find in a game, the higher chance you have to score, and the more points you are going to put on the board."

Engstrand, 43, called plays in the XFL and at the University of San Diego in 2019 and spent the previous two seasons as the Detroit Lions' passing game coordinator. He said it felt good to be back calling plays in a regular-season game and acknowledged there were a few play calls he would like to have back and times he wanted to get the play into quarterback Justin Fields sooner.

Despite the offensive output in the opener, the Jets entered Thursday’s practice dealing with multiple injuries and a thin wide receiver room. Veteran Josh Reynolds was held out of practice with a hamstring injury, and his absence opened the possibility that Allen Lazard, a healthy scratch in Week 1, could make his 2025 debut. Coach Aaron Glenn said Lazard has been behind after missing time in the preseason with a shoulder injury.

Cornerback Sauce Gardner was limited in practice with a groin issue, and defensive back Michael Carter II was limited with a shoulder concern. Running back and kick returner Kene Nwangwu was absent with a hamstring injury, and defensive lineman Jay Tufele missed practice with an illness. Tight end Mason Taylor was limited with an ankle injury but told The Post he expects to play Sunday.

The injuries affecting New York’s secondary and receiver rotation come as the Jets try to convert explosive plays into points consistently. Last season the team managed 32 points only twice across the entire year; the opener’s 32-point output offered a different-looking offense under Engstrand’s direction.

Meanwhile, Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Ed Oliver, set to be an opponent later in the week, was held out of practice and appeared in a walking boot while dealing with an ankle injury. Oliver, 27, produced a standout Week 1 performance against the Baltimore Ravens with six tackles, a sack, a forced fumble, two quarterback hits and three tackles for loss.

Engstrand emphasized both the offensive focus on big plays and his intent to keep sharpening play calling. "It was really nice to be back doing that again and under the pressure of a game that counts, but it felt good," he said. "It was exciting, it was fun for me to be out there. There were a couple of calls that I would have liked back and a couple of [times] that I could get the play call into Justin a little bit quicker."

With Sunday’s game approaching, the Jets must manage injuries and personnel decisions while attempting to sustain the explosive-play rate that Engstrand said correlates with higher scoring. Allen Lazard’s status and the health of Reynolds, Gardner and other regulars will be among the items the team monitors heading into game day.