Sloppy Penalties Continue to Give Jets Concern in 2024

In 2023, the New York Jets were the most penalized team in the NFL.

Things appear to be going the same way for the 2024 season.

A week after being called for five penalties in their preseason opening, New York was called for another seven in the team's 15-12 victory over the Carolina Panthers Saturday night.

While some penalties were in-play events such as holding along the offensive line, there were many pre and post-play penalties that either hurt the Jets' defense or killed the offensive drives throughout the contest.

That's something that Jets head coach Robert Saleh has been trying to rectify in camp before the real games begin.

"Just guys with nerves. I really wanted a clean game," New York's head coach said. "The pre-snap penalties and post-snap penalties are the ones that we've got to get out of our game. The in-action penalties will always happen, aggressive penalties. But we had the personal foul, we had an offsides. Those were the two big ones. I thought the second half was clean. I'm not sure, I thought we had one or two in the second half, which I thought was pretty good."

Saleh can be pleased with the team's lack of penalties in the second half but it's the second-straight preseason game where the Jets were called for at least four penalties in the first quarter alone.

Related: Jets Pleased With Aaron Rodgers' Help on Sideline in Preseason Action

It may not matter in the preseason but four penalties in the first quarter could be something that hurts the Jets when the games matter.

Saleh may have an emphasis on it, but at some point, the undisciplined play may just be who the Jets are for another season.