NY Jets defensive end Micheal Clemons has garnered a bit of a reputation as someone who is never afraid to back down from or even start fights in his short time in the NFL. He's helping solidify that reputation this summer.
Clemons has already gotten into a few scuffles during training camp, both with members of his own team and during a joint practice with the Atlanta Falcons last week. That trend continued when the Jets held a joint practice with the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte on Thursday.
The third-year defensive lineman got into a fight with Panthers running back Mike Boone, during which both players threw punches with Clemons connecting with Boone's helmet.
An unnamed Panthers player was later seen "flipping the double bird" in Clemons' direction after practice as the two teams went their separate ways. Evidently, Clemons isn't making many friends with opposing teams.
Micheal Clemons is living up to his reputation with the NY Jets
This is hardly the first time that Clemons has been involved in an incident with another player. His most famous encounter came during a November game against the Buffalo Bills last year when Clemons nearly fought Bills left tackle Dion Dawkins in the tunnel after the game.
Clemons was ejected a week later after making contact with an official during a fight with Miami Dolphins offensive lineman Lester Cotton in the NFL's first Black Friday game.
The former Texas A&M standout later got into a verbal altercation with fans during the team's Thursday Night Football loss to the Cleveland Browns in Week 17. Clemons has become known for his mid-game/off-field antics.
The soon-to-be 27-year-old is currently penciled in as one of the team's starting defensive ends opposite Jermaine Johnson, although the hope is that Haason Reddick will assume that role whenever he eventually reports to camp.
Nonetheless, Clemons is expected to fill a key depth role for the Jets in 2024. Jets defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich spoke highly of Clemons following Wednesday's practice, indicating that he's making a case to be a three-down player following an "amazing" summer.
Clemons could become even more important to a Jets team that shipped away John Franklin-Myers to the Denver Broncos in the offseason. At 6-foot-5, 270 pounds, Clemons can fill a similar role to JFM in the Jets' defense.
The Jets would probably prefer if he toned down the fighting just a little bit, though. Setting the tone is one thing, but the team can't have him throwing punches come the regular season. That's how you get yourself ejected, as Clemons found out the hard way last year.
