Tag: Jets wide receivers

Jets WR Denzel Mims hopes to improve route running, become ‘go-to guy’

Jets’ Denzel Mims want to improve his route running this offseason and be the ‘go-to guy.’

Denzel Mims has only played in a handful of games in his rookie season, but he already has his mind set on what he needs to improve upon in his first NFL offseason.

Mims, the Jets’ 2020 second-round pick out of Baylor, only has a six-game sample size in the NFL, mainly because of hamstring injuries that he dealt with in training camp and in the first half of the season. However, Mims has been impactful when he’s been on the field. Now, as the season winds down, Mims is already focusing on what he needs to do to get better.

“Everything, but the main focus for me is that I want to be able to be labeled as a good route runner,” Mims said, per SNY. “That’s what in the offseason I’m going to work on a lot and try to be good in that area and try to do good in everything else. I want to be that go-to guy.”

In the six games Mims has been on the field, he’s given a glimpse into what kind of receiver he can be. He’s racked up 19 catches for 324 yards without a full training camp and a limited number of practices.

When the Jets do target Mims, it’s been primarily on plays down the field. He’s averaging 17.1 yards per reception and nine yards per target, according to Pro Football Reference. It’s been vertical routes and deep crossing routes in particular that have been successful for Mims.

Based on what Mims said Wednesday, however, he wants to do more than what he’s been doing. He wants to be the guy that you can count on getting a first down in a key spot or making a big touchdown grab late in the game.

All that comes with time and reps, but it seems like Mims is determined to get those this offseason. If Mims can do that, it would definitely give the Jets a legit wide receiver for 2021 and beyond.

Breshad Perriman is Jets Wire’s Week 9 Player of the Game vs. Patriots

Perriman was the Jets’ leading receiver with five catches for 101 yards and two touchdowns.

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The Jets finally got all their playmakers on the field at once for the first time all season in Monday’s 30-27 loss to the Patriots. Breshad Perriman made the most of it.

Perriman was the Jets’ leading receiver with five catches for 101 yards and two touchdowns. It was the best game of his young Jets career, so he gets Jets Wire’s Player of the Game for Week 9.

Perriman’s most notable play was a 50-yard touchdown catch from Joe Flacco in the second quarter. According to NFL Next Gen Stats, that completion had a catch probability of 26 percent.

Perriman’s second touchdown catch was a thing of beauty, too. He completely crossed up his defender and had a wide-open, 15-yard touchdown late in the third quarter.

The Jets’ top receiver has had trouble staying on the field this season. Perriman missed a few games early in the season with an ankle injury and then missed last week’s game against the Chiefs with a concussion.

When Perriman has been on the field, had not been very productive. Before Monday’s performance, Perriman’s best game came against the Dolphins when he had eight catches for 62 yards. Perriman now has 16 catches for 219 yards and two touchdowns this season.

Monday showed how different the Jets offense looks when they have all three of their starting wide receivers on the field. With multiple playmakers, it opens up the field drastically and Perriman made the most of his opportunities.

We’ll see if that carries over into the Jets’ next game against the Chargers following their bye week.

The Cardinals got Kyler Murray an elite weapon. The Jets haven’t been as kind to Sam Darnold.

The Arizona Cardinals got Kyler Murray Deandre Hopkins, while the Jets have given Sam Darnold nothing at wide receiver.

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When Sam Darnold looks over at the Cardinals’ sideline on Sunday, he will see one of the NFL’s best wide receivers in DeAndre Hopkins. Then the injured Jets quarterback will look over at his own wideouts and see a cluster of no-name pass-catchers.

Three years into Darnold’s career, the Jets have failed to get him the weapon he needs in order to be successful. The Cardinals, meanwhile, traded for Hopkins this past offseason to help Kyler Murray. Amazingly, the price for Hopkins wasn’t too steep, as Arizona gave up a second-round pick, a fourth-round pick and RB David Johnson.

New York, meanwhile, let Darnold’s favorite target, Robby Anderson, walk in free agency and sign with the Carolina Panthers. In response, the Jets signed Breshad Perriman for $4 million less than what Anderson got from the Panthers. Anderson has put up elite numbers through four games with 28 catches for 377 yards and a touchdown. Perriman, meanwhile, has five catches for 29 yards and has only played in two games this season due to injury.

Joe Douglas drafted only one wide receiver in Baylor’s Denzel Mims this past April. He has yet to step foot on the field this season, as he’s dealt with injuries to both hamstrings. Douglas used a fourth-round pick on Jame Morgan, a quarterback out of FIU who has no chance of seeing the field in 2020, barring multiple injuries to the other Jets quarterbacks. That pick could’ve easily been used to take another wide receiver.

Douglas isn’t the only one to blame, though. His predecessor, Mike Maccagnan, never picked a wide receiver in the draft after selecting Darnold in 2018. Maccagnan only picked three skill position players in the 2018 and 2019 drafts, including Chris Herndon, Trevon Wesco and Trenton Cannon. Herndon is becoming invisible in the Jets’ offense, while Wesco is primarily a blocking tight end. Cannon is no longer with the Jets.

Looking at some of the other young quarterbacks in the league, it’s hard to argue any of them have a worst supporting cast than Darnold. Murray has Hopkins, Josh Allen has Stefon Diggs, Patrick Mahomes has Tyreek Hill and Baker Mayfield has Odell Beckham Jr. And those are just those quarterback’s No. 1 receivers. Nevermind the depth they have to work with.

So while Darnold has not lived up to expectations in two-plus years as a starting quarterback, to put all the blame on him is unfair. Not many quarterbacks could do well with what the Jets have for offensive weapons. Throw in a poor offensive line and a head coach that has hindered Darnold’s development, and it’s easy to see why the gunslinger has not succeeded, his own mistakes — and there’s been plenty — notwithstanding.

When Darnold does see Murray connect with Hopkins on Sunday, he should be jealous because the Cardinals have done right by their franchise quarterback. They’ve supplied him with am elite wide receiver and a talented cast, while Darnold doesn’t even know who he’ll be throwing the ball to each week.

Lawrence Cager doubtful to return vs. Broncos

Another Jets wide receiver bit the dust. This time it was rookie Lawrence Cager.

Another Jets wide receiver bit the dust. This time it was rookie Lawrence Cager.

Cager is doubtful to return to Thursday’s game against the Broncos with a hamstring injury. He fell awkwardly going out for a pass in the second quarter and came up holding his hamstring. Cager was able to walk off under his own power, but he’s likely done for the night.

This was Cager’s second career NFL game. He made his NFL debut last week against the Colts. The Jets are now down to five healthy wide receivers after dressing six for the game.

Jamison Crowder, Chris Hogan, Braxton Berrios, Jeff Smith and Josh Malone remain.

New York Jets protect former UGA WR on their practice squad

Former Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver Lawrence Cager signed to the New York Jets practice squad to start the season

Former Georgia wide receiver Lawrence Cager signed to the New York Jets practice squad to start the season. Now, the Jets are designating Cager as one of four players who they’re protecting on their practice squad.

Cager played one season for the Georgia Bulldogs after transferring from Miami.  Cager was plagued with injuries during his collegiate career and endured multiple ankle injuries in 2019 with Georgia.

Despite the injuries, Cager helped the Bulldogs make their third straight SEC Championship Game.  He was second on the team in receptions (33) and receiving yards (476). Cager also caught four touchdowns for the Dawgs and won countless jump balls.

His ability to win contested catches should translate to the NFL. The biggest challenge for Cager will be gaining separation from NFL defensive backs.

The Jets signed Cager as an undrafted free agent this offseason but waived prior to the season.  The following day, New York signed Cager to their practice squad.

Cager is trending towards making his first appearance in the NFL this week. The Jets have mounting injuries at the wide receiver position. Jamison Crowder (hamstring), Breshad Perriman (ankle), and Denzel Mims (IR with hamstring injury) are all expected to miss this week’s game against the Indianapolis Colts. This opens the door for Lawrence Cager.

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New York Jets protect former UGA WR on their practice squad

Former Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver Lawrence Cager signed to the New York Jets practice squad to start the season

Former Georgia wide receiver Lawrence Cager signed to the New York Jets practice squad to start the season. Now, the Jets are designating Cager as one of four players who they’re protecting on their practice squad.

Cager played one season for the Georgia Bulldogs after transferring from Miami.  Cager was plagued with injuries during his collegiate career and endured multiple ankle injuries in 2019 with Georgia.

Despite the injuries, Cager helped the Bulldogs make their third straight SEC Championship Game.  He was second on the team in receptions (33) and receiving yards (476). Cager also caught four touchdowns for the Dawgs and won countless jump balls.

His ability to win contested catches should translate to the NFL. The biggest challenge for Cager will be gaining separation from NFL defensive backs.

The Jets signed Cager as an undrafted free agent this offseason but waived prior to the season.  The following day, New York signed Cager to their practice squad.

Cager is trending towards making his first appearance in the NFL this week. The Jets have mounting injuries at the wide receiver position. Jamison Crowder (hamstring), Breshad Perriman (ankle), and Denzel Mims (IR with hamstring injury) are all expected to miss this week’s game against the Indianapolis Colts. This opens the door for Lawrence Cager.

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Jets sign WR Josh Malone to active roster, place CB Arthur Maulet on IR

The Jets have signed Josh Malone to the active roster and placed Arthur Maulet on injured reserve.

After being called up from the practice squad twice, the Jets officially signed Josh Malone to the active roster.

New York announced on Tuesday that it has signed Malone to the 53-man roster and placed CB Arthur Maulet on injured reserve. In addition, the Jets released Paul Worrilow from their practice squad.

Under the new practice squad rules, the Jets were allowed to bring Malone up to the gameday roster twice and then send him back down to the practice squad without him being subject to waivers. Since Malone has played two games though, he was subject to waivers.

The Jets now have three healthy wide receivers on the active roster. Along with Malone, the Jets have Chris Hogan and Braxton Berrios. Jamison Crowder is still a question mark for this week with a hamstring injury, while Breshad Perriman is week-to-week with an ankle injury.

As for Maulet, he has to miss at least the next three games under the new injured reserve rules. So the Jets are down to four healthy cornerbacks with Quincy Wilson having a concussion.

The Jets could promote a cornerback from the practice squad to take Maulet’s spot. Javelin Guidry, Lamar Jackson and Zane Lewis are the three cornerbacks on the Jets’ practice squad.

Jets WR Breshad Perriman week-to-week with sprained ankle, Chris Hogan avoids serious injury

Breshad Perriman is week-to-week with a sprained ankle.

The New York Jets will be without their No. 1 wide receiver for at least a couple of weeks.

Breshad Perriman suffered a sprained ankle on Sunday against the 49ers and is considered week-to-week, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Perriman exited Sunday’s game in the second quarter with two receptions for 12 yards.

This is Perriman’s second injury since joining the Jets. He suffered a knee injury in training camp that kept him sidelined for a few weeks. Perriman signed a one-year deal worth $8 million with New York in the offseason.

Despite their recent string of bad luck on the injury front, the Jets seemed to have caught a break with Chris Hogan. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, Hogan left Sunday’s game with a rib injury, but nothing is broken and all indications are he will be good to go against the Colts this weekend.

With Hogan avoiding a serious injury, the Jets are down to three healthy wide receivers. Along with Hogan, New York has Braxton Berrios and Josh Malone. Jamison Crowder missed Sunday’s game with a hamstring injury and it is unknown if he will return in Week 3.

The Jets’ options are limited in terms of adding a wide receiver. On the practice squad, they have Lawerence Cager and D.J. Montgomery. Donte Moncrief is also on the practice squad, but is currently dealing with an injury that landed him on the practice squad injured reserve.

Jets WR Breshad Perriman, CB Quincy Wilson ruled out vs. 49ers

The Jets are down to three healthy wide receivers with the latest injury to Breshad Perriman.

Update: Perriman and Wilson have both been downgraded to out for the remainder of Sunday’s action.

The Jets are now down to three healthy wide receivers.

Breshad Perriman left Sunday’s game against the 49ers in the second quarter with an ankle injury and currently questionable to return. With Perriman out, the Jets have Chris Hogan, Josh Malone and Braxton Berrios as the only three available wide receivers. Jamison Crowder did not suit up on Sunday because of a hamstring injury.

Quincy Wilson is also questionable to return, as he is being evaluated for a concussion. Pierre Desir, who was benched in favor of Wilson in Week 1, is filling in for Wilson.

Jets WR Jamison Crowder ruled out for Week 2 matchup vs. 49ers

Jets wide receiver Jamison Crowder is out for Sunday’s game against the San Francisco 49ers.

Sam Darnold is down yet another playmaker for Sunday’s contest against the San Francisco 49ers, as Jamison Crowder has been ruled out by Adam Gase.

Crowder is currently nursing a hamstring injury which limited him in practice on Wednesday and forced him out of action on Thursday. Crowder is also not practicing on Friday, prompting New York to rule him out. Despite his impending Week 2 absence, Gase does not think Crowder’s hamstring injury will become a long-term issue.

Crowder emerged as Darnold’s favorite target and that rang true against the Bills in Week 1. He was targeted a team-high 13 times against Buffalo and caught seven passes for 115 yards, including a 69-yard touchdown in the third quarter.

With Crowder out, Braxton Berrios will slide into the slot position. On outside, the Jets will have Breshad Perriman and Chris Hogan. Luckily for New York, the 49ers are down multiple cornerbacks, including Richard Sherman. Regardless, the Jets’ are extremely thin at wide receiver entering Week 2.

In other injury news, the Jets are expected to get back running back La’Mical Perine (ankle)  and linebacker Avery Williamson (hamstring). Both are practicing on Friday and should be ready to go for Sunday’s game.