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The Jets had high hopes for La’Mical Perine when they used a fourth-round pick on the running back in 2020, but the Florida product has spent most of his sophomore season riding the bench.
Drafted with Adam Gase’s offense still in place, Perine never caught on with New York’s new coaching staff. Michael Carter, a 2021 fourth-rounder, quickly usurped Perine as Gang Green’s up-and-coming rusher, while more experienced players like Tevin Coleman and Ty Johnson have been tasked with handling the rest of the carries. Even Austin Walter, a player with one rush before this season, has seen action over Perine when the Jets were in need of depth.
Perine has only seen seven offensive snaps and 19 special teams snaps over three games in his second NFL season. The 23-year-old has mostly been inactive, but that will change Sunday against the Saints. With Carter still recovering from an ankle injury and Coleman out with a concussion, Perine will be New York’s third back behind Johnson and Walter.
“Anytime one person’s down, it gives an opportunity for another one,” Saleh said Friday of his Week 14 backfield trio. “So it gives them all an opp.”
Perine, who ran for 232 yards and two touchdowns on 64 carries as a rookie, needs to seize whatever chance he gets in Week 14. That’s easier said than done considering he’s third in New York’s pecking order and facing a top-five run defense. The Saints allow just 96.4 rushing yards per game; every member of the Jets’ backfield will have trouble on Sunday.
Perine won’t be the Jets’ only 2020 draft pick looking to impress this weekend after a sophomore season of minimal usage. With New York thin at wide receiver, second-rounder Denzel Mims will also try to seize his latest opportunity.
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