Tag: Josh Malone

Jets sign Mike White to active roster, promote Josh Adams and Josh Malone from practice squad

The Jets signed Mike White to the active roster and promoted Josh Adams, Josh Malone from the practice squad to the active roster.

The Jets have themselves a new No. 2 quarterback — for now.

On Saturday, New York signed Mike White to its active roster for Week 1. Despite having no regular season experience, White got the nod over David Fales, who remains on the practice squad, while Joe Flacco continues to work his way back from offseason neck surgery.  He will serve as Sam Darnold’s backup until Flacco returns to action. Rookie James Morgan will be the Jets’ third-string quarterback.

The Jets also addressed two offensive skill positions leading up to their season opener, promoting running back Josh Adams and wide receiver Josh Malone from the practice squad. Adams will presumably take the spot of the injured La’Mical Perine as the No. 3 running back behind Le’Veon Bell. The 23-year-old rushed for only 12 yards on eight carries with New York in 2019.

Malone will likely fill in for Denzel Mims, who is doubtful with a hamstring injury. Even with Malone up from the practice squad, the Jets are down to only five wide receivers — Braxton Berrios, Jamison Crowder, Chris Hogan and Breshad Perriman. The 24-year-old appeared in only two games with the Jets last season and played primarily on special teams. In three NFL seasons, Malone has caught seven passes for 75 yards and one touchdown.

 

Jets wide receivers ranked among worst in NFL by Pro Football Focus

Pro Football Focus has the Jets wide receivers ranked 31st in the NFL.

The Jets’ wide receivers have been nothing to write home about for years now. Ask Pro Football Focus, and that trend will continue in 2020.

New York made an effort to improve its wide receivers this offseason, but it didn’t bring in anyone that will scare an opposing defense. The Jets signed Breshad Perriman and Josh Doctson and drafted Denzel Mims out of Baylor. They return Jamison Crowder, Josh Malone, Braxton Berrios, Vyncint Smith and Jeff Smith. Their former No. 1 wide receiver, Robby Anderson, signed with the Panthers.

Pro Football Focus analyzed the Jets’ receivers and ranked them 31st in the league out of 32 teams. Despite the low rank, Pro Football Focus sees some potential if Perriman improves upon his strong finish in Tampa Bay last season and Mims meets his expectations.

“There are plenty of question marks on paper, but the potential is there with this receiving corps if Perriman continues to progress and Mims’ size/speed profile translates quickly,” Pro Football Focus’s Steve Palazzolo said of Gang Green’s wideouts.

If these wide receivers are going to succeed in 2020, it’s going to be based on two things: offensive line and quarterback play. The Jets’ new offensive line has to give Sam Darnold a chance to make the necessary throws. Last season’s unit didn’t do that, allowing Jets quarterbacks to be sacked 52 times.

Darnold, meanwhile, needs to make significant strides in 2020, regardless of those around him. The fact that the Jets have upgraded his supporting cast should certainly help, though.

The receivers have to do their part too, though. This isn’t the most recognizable group, but, as PFF noted, there is some potential. If nothing else, a handful of unknowns will get plenty of opportunities to make an impact in 2020.

Jets sign WR Josh Malone to active roster

The Jets signed wide receiver Josh Malone to their active roster on Thursday.

With Demaryius Thomas dealing with multiple injuries and his status up in the air for Sunday’s game against the Steelers, the Jets made a move to sure up their wide receiver depth chart on Thursday.

New York signed Josh Malone off its practice squad on Thursday, promoting him to the 53-man active roster for Week 16.

A fourth-round pick of the Cincinnati Bengals out of Tennessee in 2017, Malone has been on the Jets’ practice squad since Sept. 4. In 20 games and seven career starts with Cincinnati, Malone has totaled seven receptions for 75 yards and a touchdown.

Malone had seven catches for 73 yards and a touchdown in the preseason before he and the Bengals parted ways on Sept. 1. In three seasons at Tennessee, Malone recorded 104 catches, 1,068 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns.

If Thomas can’t play and Robby Anderson’s illness that kept him out of practice on Thursday turns out to be a serious one that sidelines him on Sunday. Malone could be in line for a substantial chunk of playing time. He is the latest receiver to join New York from its practice squad. Boston College product Jeff Smith suited up for the Jets against the Ravens last week after being promoted to the active roster, but injured his ankle and landed on season-ending injured reserve.