Winners, losers from Jets’ preseason finale

Winners, losers from Jets’ preseason finale originally appeared on The Sporting News

The 2025 preseason is officially in the books for the New York Jets, the first preseason under head coach Aaron Glenn. Following a 30-10 romp over the Packers in preseason Week 1, Gang Green lost their final two matchups. But wins and losses don’t matter in the preseason, a maxim made famous by the winless 2008 Lions. What matters is how the players looked.

Here’s a few players who helped their case in the Jets’ 17-19 loss on Friday night, and some who didn’t.

Winners

Justin Fields

Can a player be a winner if he didn’t even enter the game? In Fields’ case, yes. New York’s backup quarterbacks, Brady Cook and Adrian Martinez, both played horrendous football against the Eagles’ backups. Fields has his own issues and his development will be a challenge for the Jets in 2025, but there shouldn’t be the faintest whiff of a quarterback controversy for the Jets.

Lawrance Toafili

The undrafted rookie from Florida State stamped his preseason with an exclamation point. After not finding much room to run for much of the game, Toafili tore off a 19-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter, breaking three tackles on his way to the endzone. For a team that’s going to lean heavily on the run, he made a strong case for a backup spot on the roster.

way to stay on your feet, @Toafili9

📺: #PHIvsNYJ on WCBS pic.twitter.com/ta8jLd90Kl

— New York Jets (@nyjets) August 23, 2025

Malachi Moore

Another rookie who impressed was safety Malachi Moore. On a deep ball late in the first quarter, Moore tracked it well and picked it off near the sideline, holding onto the ball through contact with the ground.

have a day @malachi_moore13

📺: #PHIvsNYJ on WCBS pic.twitter.com/mRecKYimCZ

— New York Jets (@nyjets) August 23, 2025

Losers

Backup quarterbacks

This performance should mildly alarm Jets fans. Injuries have plagued Fields throughout his career. Nothing major, but he’s never played more than 15 games in a season. If he has to miss any games this year, the Jets can probably chalk those up as losses based on what we saw from the backups on Friday night.

THIRD TAKEAWAY by the defense tonight 🔥 pic.twitter.com/4uBVC1iRUL

— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) August 23, 2025

Harrison Mevis

“The Thiccer Kicker” had his only field goal attempt of the night blocked while former and current Jet Nick Folk drilled a 41-yarder. A cool nickname alone won’t earn you a starting spot, and Mevis blew his last chance.