Chris Herndon’s 2019 season didn’t go as excepted.
The 2018 fourth-round pick looked poised for a breakout sophomore season after posting a solid rookie year. But a four-game suspension because of a substance abuse violation and two injuries derailed any chance of that breakout.
Though disappointing, Herndon saw this past season not as a setback, but as a learning opportunity. Herndon told the team website he now understands the fragility of his career after he missed 11 games with hamstring and rib injuries after his suspension. He also took the time to get a better grasp of Adam Gase’s offense after watching from the sideline.
“It was a big learning year for me, but I’m ready,” Herndon said. “I’m continuing to learn it each and every day, detail each assignment, each play.”
There was a lot of optimism for Herndon after he caught 39 balls for 502 yards and four touchdowns in 2018. His inclusion in an offense that featured Robby Anderson and added Le’Veon Bell and Jamison Crowder gave hope for the Jets. But with Herndon’s injury and Sam Darnold’s mono diagnosis – as well as a leaky offensive line – the Jets finished with one of the worst offenses in the league and barely managed a 7-9 record in 2019.
Now, Herndon joins an even more loaded offense with Bell, Crowder and offseason additions Breshad Perriman, Frank Gore and rookie Denzel Mims. Joe Douglas also tried to fix the offensive line as well with eight new bodies – four of which are poised to start for the Jets this season.
Herndon provides a skillset the Jets truly lacked in 2019 and will be heavily needed in 2020. His ability as a big-bodied receiver who can make plays in the red zone and in the middle of the field will open up the offense for Darnold this season. Plus, he’s a willing blocker. Ryan Griffin and Daniel Brown did that all at times at the tight end position this past season, but even they weren’t enough to replace the versatility and physicality Herndon. The Jets struggled to gain movement on offense and rarely strung together a cohesive drive until late in the season.
The potential is there for Herndon – he proved it as a rookie. Now he just needs to build off his 2018 season, shake off the missteps of 2019 and focus on his third season in New York. He’s been taking lots of mental and physical notes during virtual offseason meetings all while training and rehabbing at Steve McLendon’s gym in Flowery Branch, Georgia.
“You should never feel like you know everything. Continue to learn and continue to keep an open mind,” Herndon said. “That’s when good things tend to happen.”