WR Josh Doctson became the third Jets player to opt-out of the 2020 season on Thursday, joining LB C.J. Mosley and OL Leo Koloamatangi. NFL players had until 4 p.m. on Thursday to opt-out.
Doctson signed a one-year deal worth $825,000 with New York as a free agent in February. A former first-round pick, he was going to have a chance to revive his career with the receiver-thin Jets in 2020. Instead, he will sit out the season as the league attempts to play through a global pandemic.
Doctson was drafted 22nd overall in 2016 by Washington after an impressive tenure at TCU. An Achilles injury limited him to just two games as a rookie, though. Doctson totaled 1,034 receiving yards and eight touchdowns over the next two seasons, but he was cut by Washington prior to the 2019 season.
The 27-year-old then latched on with the Vikings, but Doctson only played one game for them last year before being waived. He never caught a pass for Minnesota.
Doctson was going to be in play for at least a depth role in New York. The Jets’ three starting receivers will likely be Breshad Perriman, Jamison Crowder and rookie Denzel Mims, but after that, they have little experience. Now there’s even less.
With Doctson gone, the likes of Vyncint Smith, Braxton Berrios, Jehu Chesson, Josh Malone, Jeff Smith, Lawrence Cager and George Campbell will fight for the remaining wide receiver spots on the depth chart.