Near the end of a lost game in the second lost season of his young Jets career, Armand Membou’s frustrations materialized. 

He’d just allowed Chiefs star Chris Jones to maneuver past him with seven minutes remaining, leaving the Jets right tackle tangled with another player and ultimately on the Arrowhead Stadium turf as Jones dropped Geno Smith for a sack. As Membou went over to the sideline, he slammed his helmet with both hands, prompting an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. Once he reached the bench, he slammed the helmet again and threw a tablet. 

This was a rare glimpse of Membou, Gang Green’s first-round pick in 2025 who has generally impressed as a tackle of the future, expressing frustration. He said postgame that the outburst was because he doesn’t like losing. Four days later, he said he wanted to use it as a learning moment. 

The problem, though, is that the Jets have seen this before with young players. The losing, over and over again, brings out inevitable frustration. And now they’re staring down the delicate task of making sure Membou — as well as other young pieces such as Kenyon Sadiq, Omar Cooper Jr. and David Bailey — doesn’t become the latest to join that list.