The decision by HC Aaron Glenn to take his team to London early for Sunday’s game against Denver was designed, in part, to help foster camaraderie among his players. Whether it helps the Jets get their first victory of the season or not, QB Justin Fields has felt a vibe that can have immediate and long-term benefits.
“AG challenged us to kind of talk to guys that we’re not used to talking to on the team,” Fields said on Wednesday, the Jets’ first day of practice in the UK. “So this is definitely an opportunity for us to get closer as a team, build that camaraderie and just get closer. So it’s been good. I feel like I’ll talk to mostly everybody on the team, but some guys are more reserved than others.
He added: “Got down to the city yesterday and went to go get some food with the guys. So that was cool. And you know, as I said, just spending time with my teammates, and, of course, just being here with them all day, instead of us going our separate ways, going home and stuff like that. So, it’s been cool.”
Fields and the Jets will be facing the Broncos for the sixth-straight season, this time with the Green & White as the “host” at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in North London. And the Broncos, especially on defense, present a formidable challenge. Denver is coming off a road win against the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles last week.
“They have two edge guys that are pretty elite,” Glenn said. “They’re very aggressive, very aggressive. They’re sending five the majority all the time. So listen, our O-line has their work cut out for them, and they know that.”