Tag: New York Jets tight ends

4 things to know about new Jets TE Tyler Kroft

Tyler Kroft is primarily known for being a blocking tight end, but there are a few other things to know about the Jets’ newest player.

The Jets added to their tight end room this week, agreeing to sign Tyler Kroft.

New York and Kroft agreed on a one-year deal worth $2 million with $1.5 million in guarantees. Kroft was drafted in the third round out of Rutgers by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2015 NFL draft. After four seasons with the Bengals, Kroft joined the Bills for two years before having the final year of his three-year contract voided.

The 28-year-old tight end has 85 catches for 851 yards and 12 touchdowns in his six-year career.

Let’s get to know a little more about the Jets’ newest tight end.

Jets TE Chris Herndon feels he’s been used ‘fairly’ despite plummeting production

Chris Herndon thinks he’s been fairly used on offense this season.

Chris Herndon has not produced the way he was expected to in 2020, but he doesn’t think that has to do with how he’s being used within the Jets offense.

Herndon thinks he’s been used “fairly” on offense this season, per ESPN’s Rich Cimini. The third-year tight end only has 13 catches for 98 yards on the year. He’s also had some costly drops and fumbles, but Herndon knows he can’t control how involved he is on the offense.

“It’s a team game,” Herndon said. “I can’t sit after every game and be upset and mad and try to point fingers. This time last year I wasn’t even on the field, so at this point, I’m honestly just thankful to be out there.”

Obviously, Herndon would prefer to be having a better season than he is now. He showed a ton of potential in his rookie season with 39 catches for 502 yards and four touchdowns. Then a suspension, a hamstring injury and a rib injury threw his sophomore season off course. He played in just one game.

There was a lot of hype about Herndon in training camp this summer. Adam Gase said he was going to play a big role in the offense. But the Jets have failed to get him the ball and when he does get it, he doesn’t hang onto it.

Fortunately for the tight end, there are nine games left to be played, so Herndon still has a shot to make something of this season. If he can play well over this final stretch and carry that into next season, he’ll have a worthwhile end to the season to build on in 2021.

Giants sign former Jets TE Eric Tomlinson

The Giants have signed former Jets tight end Eric Tomlinson.

A former Jet is heading back to the Giants.

Tight end Eric Tomlinson announced on Instagram that he agreed to a deal with the Giants last week. However, due to the coronavirus, the deal is pending a physical.

Tomlinson spent three years with the Jets from 2016 to 2018. In 36 games with the Jets, he had 16 catches for 193 yards and one touchdown.

Despite injuring his foot in a weight lifting accident, Tomlinson was re-signed by the Jets after the 2018 season. However, he failed to make the team and was claimed off waivers by the Giants.

Tomlinson also spent time with the Patriots and Raiders in 2019. Before signing with the Jets in 2016, Tomlinson was with the Eagles and Texans in 2015.

Originally, Tomlinson went undrafted out of UTEP in 2015.

Ryan Griffin eager to team up with Chris Herndon in 2020

Jets tight end Ryan Griffin is looking forward to teaming up with Chris Herndon next season.

The Jets were never at full strength at the tight end position in 2019, but Ryan Griffin believes big things await him and Chris Herndon next season.

The Jets didn’t get to see much of the duo last season. They only played in one game together in 2019, which came in Week 10 of the regular season. As both players battle back from injuries, Griffin is eager to see what New York’s offense could do with both of them in the lineup.

“I’m excited for Chris to get back,” Griffin told the team’s website. “He’s very versatile and can do a lot of things very well in this league, and he’s a young kid. I’m looking forward to him getting a full season under his belt and under the system as well. When we’re both out there I think it opens up the playbook that much more for Coach Gase. I’m really looking forward to seeing what this offense can do with everybody healthy and no nagging injuries, no sicknesses, no illnesses with everybody on the same page.”

Griffin was signed late last offseason after Herndon received a four-game suspension for violating the league’s substance of abuse policy. Griffin played in 13 games, making 34 catches for 320 yards and five touchdowns.

The Jets rewarded Griffin’s strong season with a three-year extension worth $10.8 million with $4 million guaranteed, but his season ended prematurely after he went down with an ankle injury and was placed on injured reserve.

Herndon, meanwhile, pulled a hamstring that caused him to miss an additional four games following his suspension. Then, in his first game back against the Giants, Herndon broke his rib and was ruled out for the rest of the season.

Sam Darnold had great chemistry with Herndon in his rookie season and with Griffin this past season. Darnold more than anybody would like to see what this offense can do when both are healthy. If the two can produce the way they have in their limited time with the Jets, then this could be a lethal duo at tight end.

Sam Darnold is Jets Wire’s Player of the Game vs. Redskins

Sam Darnold led the way for the Jets as they got their third win of the season with a 34-17 win over the Washington Redskins.

Sam Darnold led the way for the Jets in their third win of the season Sunday,  a 34-17 road victory over the Washington Redskins.

Darnold had his best game of the season, setting a career-high in touchdown passes with four. For his performance, Darnold is Jets Wire’s Player of the Game for Week 11 of the regular season.

Going along with Darnold’s four touchdown passes, he was 19-30 for 293 yards. Other than one forced interception, Darnold played solid football. He was making magic out of the pocket with off-schedule plays and looked comfortable when in standing tall.

Darnold also did a good job of spreading the love with the football. Seven different Jets receivers had at least one reception in the game. That shows that Darnold is going through his reads and not staring down one receiver.

Darnold has enjoyed great chemistry with tight end Ryan Griffin. Darnold made him look like the second coming of Rob Gronkowski, as he had five catches for 109 yards and a touchdown. Overall, Jets tight ends had six catches for 129 yards and two touchdowns.

The only concern with Darnold is that he’s still trying to make plays when nothing is there, resulting in turnovers. Darnold’s interception came on a double screen in which neither option was open and he tried to force the ball in. He has to do a better job of getting rid of the football and not putting it up for grabs.

But other than that, the last two games have been strong for Darnold and he seems to be getting back on track. All the Jets can hope for is that he continues to develop in Adam Gase’s system and cuts down on the turnovers.