Aaron Glenn stands by Michael Clemons amidst the controversy surrounding the costly penalty committed by the Jets lineman

Michael Clemons' tenure with the Jets has not been marked by prosperity, as his costly penalties throughout his career, such as the one incurred last Sunday, have not aided his standing.

, and ASMedia

2025 September 20 . 4:16 PM

2 min read

Aaron Glenn stands by Michael Clemons amidst the Jets lineman's expensive foul, justifying his... — Aaron Glenn stands by Michael Clemons amidst the Jets lineman's expensive foul, justifying his actions.

Aaron Glenn stands by Michael Clemons amidst the controversy surrounding the costly penalty committed by the Jets lineman

Jets' Michael Clemons Faces Criticism Amidst Lack of Statistics Fundamentals

In the bustling world of the National Football League (NFL), the New York Jets are gearing up for their upcoming match against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. One of the most anticipated matchups is the duel between Sauce Gardner and Buccaneers receiver Mike Evans. However, the focus has also shifted towards Jets' defensive player Michael Clemons, who has been under scrutiny due to his lack of concrete statistics fundamentals.

Aaron Glenn, the Jets' head coach, has come to Clemons' defense, asserting that the young player's contributions extend beyond the realm of statistics fundamentals. "Michael has been with us for a while now, and he's been contributing in ways that may not always show up in the box score," Glenn said.

Clemons, who has been called for unnecessary roughness in the preseason and brutal penalties throughout 2024, was recently flagged for roughing the passer during Sunday's game against the Bills. Despite this, Glenn maintains that Clemons' role may not change significantly if Jermaine Johnson, another defensive lineman, is unavailable due to an ankle injury.

According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), Clemons has recorded one assisted tackle in 72 defensive snaps through two games. His PFF grade of 45.4 is the ninth worst among all edge rushers in the NFL. This has led some to question Clemons' performance, with Glenn acknowledging that people may feel he hasn't done anything right due to the lack of statistics fundamentals.

However, Glenn emphasized that there are other aspects of the game that Clemons is contributing to. "Michael is a hard worker, and he brings a lot of energy to the team. His presence on the field is important, and we value his efforts," Glenn said.

Meanwhile, the Jets are dealing with a slew of injuries. Rookie WR Emeka Egbuka is sidelined due to hip and groin injuries, while a host of other players, including Tony Adams, Josh Reynolds, Michael Carter II, Justin Fields, Kene Nwangwu, Jay Tufele, Jermaine Johnson, Marcelino McCrary-Ball, Andre Cisco, Kiko Mauigoa, and Gardner, did not practice on Wednesday due to various injuries.

As the Jets prepare for their match against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the spotlight remains on Clemons. Despite the criticism, Glenn remains confident in his abilities and is looking forward to seeing him in action against Evans.