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This is darn impressive reporting, there is no way around it.
Adam Gase announced on Wednesday that tight end Chris Herndon suffered a hamstring injury last Friday training on his own. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport was able to give us the MRI results today.
“Jets TE Chris Herndon suffered a Grade 1 hamstring strain while running routes on Friday, source said, and he’s out this week and likely next week,” said Rapoport. “But the belief is the pull is minor and his absence won’t be long.”
Incredible reporting. You get the sense, considering the details provided, it’s almost an Ethan Lock that Herndon will return for the Jets’ game in Jacksonville.
It will be interesting to see if Adam Gase continues to write off off the pass catching aspect of this position the next two weeks by using a blocking tight end in the #1 spot, or gets Daniel Brown more involved. He’s a mobile, athletic, receiving tight end who can stretch the field. Stay-tuned . . .
Somebody made the argument today that Gregg Williams is doing a terrific job considering all his starting linebackers are out.
While I do agree that Williams is doing a good job, perhaps much better than his counterpart on the other side of the ball, this narrative that all the starting linebackers are out is rubbish.
To me, the Jets are truly missing just one bonafide starting linebacker. Just because a team starts somebody, it doesn’t mean they miss them if they’re out.
The one starting linebacker the Jets are truly missing is inside linebacker C.J. Mosley. He is a Pro Bowl-level talent and you saw the impact he had have in the Week One. In the Jets loss to Buffalo. he had a Pick Six, recovered a fumble and had an amazing PD in the end zone (the play he pulled his groin).
There other starting linebackers the Jets are missing have been replaceable.
Neville Hewitt is every bit the player that Avery Williamson is. We can all see that, so the loss of Williamson hasn’t really impacted the Jets.
At outside linebacker, Jordan Jenkins is hurt. Well, I should say defensive end Jordan Jenkins is hurt. The Jets have basically eshewed the 3-4 defense since Mike Maccagnan was fired. But whether you consider Jenkins an OLB or DE, his loss likely isn’t impacting games. The guy is tough as boot leather, has great character and gives you everything he’s got, but most teams wouldn’t likely consider him a starting NFL OLB or DE because he’s heavy-legged, stiff-hipped and a limited athlete (which is one reason he’s on the ground too much). Going from Jenkins to Tarrell Basham is an athletic upgrade. Not looking to insult anybody, just keeping it real.
As for the other LB/DE position, whatever you want to call it, anybody who thinks the suspension of Brandon Copeland knocked out another starting linebacker, that is a reach. He’s a rotational guy – not really a true NFL starter.
So if you want to brutally honest here – the Jets are playing without one tru starting linebacker.
The other three were totally replaceable.
Stop the Alice in Wonderland thinking.
October 10, 2019
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