Tag: Jets wide receiver depth chart

Report: Free agent WR Donte Moncrief to work out for Jets

According to reports, free-agent wide receiver Donte Moncrief will try out for the Jets later this week if he passes COVID-19 protocol.

It looks like the Jets are in the market for another wide receiver.

Less than a week after signing Chris Hogan to address its lack of depth at the position, New York will put free agent wide receiver Donte Moncrief through COVID-19 protocol with the hope of working him out, according to the Daily News’ Manish Mehta. If Moncrief passes the protocols, he will have his tryout.

Moncrief, 27, has bounced around the NFL since putting together an impressive 2018 season (48 receptions, 668 yards, three touchdowns) with the Jaguars. He signed a two-year deal with the Steelers in free agency last offseason but lasted only five games in Pittsburgh before being released in November. Moncrief caught on with the Panthers to end 2019, but did not catch a single pass in three games.

Prior to 2018, Moncrief spent four years with the Colts after they drafted him in the third round of the 2014 NFL Draft. He totaled 152 receptions, 1,875 yards and 18 touchdowns in Indianapolis, his best season coming in 2015 (64 receptions, 733 yards six touchdowns).

With Denzel Mims sidelined due to an ankle injury and Vyncint Smith sidelined 5-8 weeks after undergoing core surgery, the Jets are without two of their top four wide receivers early in training camp. In all likelihood, Smith will not be ready to go for the beginning of the regular season, while there is currently no definitive timetable for Mims’ return. Signing Hogan somewhat bolstered the Jets’ wide receiver depth chart, but New York needs more than just one veteran and a bunch of unproven free agent wideouts to fill out the group.

Jets fans might remember Moncrief as the Jaguars receiver who torched Trumaine Johnson for five catches, 109 yards and a touchdown just two years ago. If all goes well in his tryout, he could be burning opposing corners while donning green and white in 2020.

Updated look at Jets’ wide receiver depth chart following Quincy Enunwa, Josh Bellamy injuries

Here is an updated look at Jets’ wide receiver depth chart following season-ending injuries to Quincy Enunwa and Josh Bellamy.

The Jets’ wide receiver room is starting to take more shape after the team announced that both Quincy Enunwa and Josh Bellamy are out for the 2020 season with significant injuries.

This was the expected move for Enunwa, who essentially missed two of the past three seasons dealing with neck injuries. He was only able to play one game last year after signing a four-year extension; this could be the end of the road for him. On the other hand, Bellamy appeared to be a likely cap casualty — saving the Jets $2.3 million without absorbing dead cap — after a shoulder injury ended his 2019. Bellamy only recorded two receptions in seven games last season but was a core member of the Jets’ special teams units when active.

Here is the Jets’ current wide receiver depth chart:

Starters: Breshad Perriman, Denzel Mims, Jamison Crowder

Backups: Vyncint Smith, Braxton Berrios, Jehu Chesson, Josh Doctson, Josh Malone, Jeff Smith, Lawrence Cager, George Campbell

The two blows to the Jets’ receiving corps are mitigated by New York’s decisions to sign Perriman after losing Robby Anderson and to draft Mims with a premium choice. With Crowder returning as the Jets’ primary slot receiver, he is the most-tenured wide receiver on the team’s depth chart.

Mims and Perriman are likely to make an instant impact for Sam Darnold and the Jets, using a combination of speed and playmaking ability to move the chains. While the Jets haven’t done all they can to ensure Darnold will have skill players capable of elevating his play, they have added a few who can certainly contribute. The problem that lies at the position is the Jets’ lack of depth; currently the third-best outside wide receiver is a toss-up between Smith and Doctson. Neither has the credentials to be relied upon come the start of the regular season. Beyond them is a ton of inexperience.

With the NFL season still on-track, the Jets will have the opportunity to add more depth between trades, free-agent signings and bringing in any players who may shake loose during training camp. New York may reek of desperation, but it still has an opportunity to add free agents such as Taylor Gabriel, Johnny Holton or Demaryius Thomas while monitoring what happens with the Alshon Jeffrey situation in Philadelphia.