The New York Jets’ 0-2 start has exposed several glaring weaknesses, but none more frustrating than Michael Clemons‘ continued penalty issues. The veteran defensive lineman’s latest brain fade came at the worst possible moment during their 30-10 beatdown by Buffalo, when he committed a roughing-the-passer penalty that negated a crucial third-and-19 stop.

Rich Cimini captured the team’s stance Thursday, sharing defensive coordinator Steve Wilks’ response on X: “Jets DC Steve Wilks on whether Michael Clemons (roughing penalty) tests his patience as a coach: ‘The one thing that we’ve talked about from day 1 is understanding that we have to surrender the individual ‘me’ for the bigger ‘we.’ It is about the team and I think Michael was completely on board.'”

The Jets’ disappointing 30-10 loss to the Bills featured yet another self-inflicted wound from defensive end Michael Clemons. His first-quarter penalty epitomized the team’s undisciplined performance. With the game scoreless, Buffalo faced third-and-19 from the Jets’ 30-yard line. Josh Allen’s pass fell incomplete, seemingly forcing a long field goal attempt. But officials flagged Clemons for roughing the passer after helmet-to-helmet contact with Allen.

This penalty completely changed the game’s momentum. Instead of attempting a difficult kick, Buffalo received an automatic first down. The Bills capitalized with James Cook’s 1-yard touchdown run moments later. The score shifted from a potential 3-0 deficit to 7-0, altering New York’s entire defensive approach. Jets analyst Joe Blewett expressed fans’ frustration on social media: “From a possible 3 points to 7. That’s exactly how you lose football games. Clemons has been doing this for years, cut his [expletive].”

Clemons offered a weak defense after the game. “I did my best to hit him clean,” he told The Post’s Brian Costello. “I have to look at it and observe it, but they threw the flag at the end of the day.” This explanation rings hollow for a player whose career increasingly features undisciplined penalties. The pattern suggests either poor coaching or inadequate player accountability. However, defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn unexpectedly supported Clemons after the game.

Aaron Glenn backs Micheal Clemons amid growing criticism

As the New York Jets navigate an 0-2 start, defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn is standing firmly behind one of his most criticized players: defensive end Micheal Clemons. While the Jets have seen bright spots—like All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner’s lockdown coverage—Clemons has become a lightning rod for fan frustration. Through two games, the fourth-year lineman has been statistically invisible, registering just one assisted tackle across 72 defensive snaps. He has zero sacks, zero quarterback hits, and zero pressures. His Pro Football Focus grade of 45.4 places him among the league’s least productive edge rushers, amplifying concerns about his performance.

Yet, Glenn remains publicly supportive. He recently defended Clemons during a team press conference, pushing back against the notion that statistics tell the whole story. “Sometimes when people, when they don’t see a stat, they feel like a player hasn’t done anything right,” Glenn explained. “But there’s other things that go on in the game that we ask players to do—that, again, that people really don’t understand.” He acknowledged Clemons needs to improve but emphasized the coaching staff’s confidence in his role and responsibilities.

That role, however, has included costly mistakes. In Week 2, Clemons committed a critical roughing-the-passer penalty against Buffalo’s Josh Allen, negating a third-down stop and leading to a Bills touchdown. This follows a pattern of undisciplined play, including a preseason unnecessary roughness penalty against Green Bay. These errors directly contradict Glenn’s stated goal of reducing penalties team-wide.