The Jets’ receiver unit behind Garrett Wilson was the most open position on the roster entering training camp and the preseason.
But nobody truly grabbed the chance to win a significant role.
Josh Reynolds, Allen Lazard and Tyler Johnson all had chances to take over the WR2 spot, but none showed much of anything in either training camp or preseason games.
Now, Lazard is battling a shoulder injury and could start the season on short-term injured reserve.
Malachi Corley, a third-round pick from the previous regime, was a long shot to win the job given his brutal rookie season last year followed by a dud of a preseason.
Rookie Arian Smith, this year’s third-round pick, was one of the few in the group who boosted his stock and largely showed well for himself.
It is probably too much to ask for him to immediately slot in at WR2, but he showed that there should be a plan to use him as a speedy downfield threat.
That speed has been his calling card, though he’s shown growth in other areas as well.
“Obviously, I wanted to be a more physical player,” Smith said after Friday night’s loss to the Eagles in their preseason finale at MetLife Stadium. “I’m a little skinnier than most receivers. [Receivers coach Shawn Jefferson] has given me props on being a little more physical. [I’m] taking pride in that.
“I feel like I’m open to doing anything they want me to do. Just keeping that mindset, that mentality. I feel like it’ll help me get to where I want to be.”
Beyond WR2, how head coach Aaron Glenn and the Jets decide to fill out the depth at the position is hard to predict ahead of final roster cutdown.
Corley certainly could be cut.
None of Lazard, Reynolds or Johnson play special teams, which doesn’t help their chances.
Xavier Gipson has been on the team the last two years and has also largely served as the team’s kick and punt returner.
However, he’s been dealing with a shoulder injury and did not play Friday.
He didn’t exactly make a strong case for himself earlier this summer, either.
That could open the door to Jamaal Pritchett, an undrafted rookie, to make the team as a returner and depth receiver.
He fumbled a punt on Friday but also had a 41-yard return and made an impact on offense, catching four passes for 54 yards.
“That’s what this league is about,” Glenn said after the game. “We could sit there and talk about the fumble that he had, but you look at the plays that he made after that: resilient. We’re not down on that player; it happens in this league. Now, you don’t want it to happen, and you coach him on the mistake, but he’s the type of player that goes right back out there and goes and makes plays. That’s intriguing to see a player operate like that.
“There’s a ton of times in that last preseason game where guys just stand out. [Pritchett], he’s one of those guys. I can’t say that he’s a lock, but I’ll tell you what, he put himself in a position for us to really look at where he fits.”
Brandon Smith is another rare example of a receiver who helped his cause.
But these players are depth pieces rather than guys who will be mainstays on offense opposite Wilson as a needed target for quarterback Justin Fields.
To complement and elevate Wilson, and to help Fields, the Jets’ WR2 outlook is not ideal.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
