Geno Smith provides one iffy highlight in shaky Jets practice

Observations from Wednesday’s Jets practice:The defense got off to a fast start in practice.Safety Dane Belton made a really nice play to bat away a pass to Garrett Wilson.

Defensive tackle Harrison Phillips would have had a sack of Cade Klubnik in a game. Quarterback Geno Smith looked shaky in practice.His passes were off target several times and he never seemed to be able to find a rhythm.

Smith had one long touchdown pass during a red zone period but he took so long to throw it that it likely would have been a sack in a game. Nose tackle T’Vondre Sweat and edge Joseph Ossai returned to practice this week but they are still being held back as they get back into football shape.They spent a lot of practice on Wednesday doing sprints across a side field while the rest of the team did drills. LB Kiko Mauigoa was held out of practice as a precaution.

Jets coach Aaron Glenn said Mauigoa has had more reps than nearly anyone on the team so they wanted to be careful not to overwork him.WR Tim Patrick and DT David Onyemata got veteran rest days. ...