The former Carolina Panthers and New England Patriots wideout is joining Sam Darnold and Adam Gase in New York.
According to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network, the Jets have added a new weapon for Sam Darnold.
Veteran WR Chris Hogan is signing with the #Jets, source said. Back in the AFC East.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) August 16, 2020
Hogan, who has 22 career touchdowns over 95 regular season games and nine playoff games, brings experience to a Jets wide receiver depth chart that has been sorely lacking it. Outside of Jamison Crowder and Breshad Perriman, the only other wide receivers on the roster who have caught a touchdown in the NFL are Vyncint Smith and Josh Malone, who have snagged just one apiece.
The New Jersey native and Monmouth College product will turn 33 years old in October. He went undrafted in 2011 and bounced between the 49ers, Giants, and Dolphins practice squads before sticking with the Bills in 2012. Hogan played 48 games with the Bills from 2013-15.
Hogan then signed a three-year deal in New England, playing for the Patriots from 2016-18. He caught nine passes for 180 yards and two touchdowns in New England’s 2016 AFC Championship win over Pittsburgh, and then picked up four catches for 57 yards in the Patriots’ Super Bowl 51 comeback victory over Atlanta.
In 2019, Hogan signed a one-year deal with Carolina. He played only seven games, missing nine in the middle of the season as he was placed on injured reserve with a left knee injury that required surgery. Over his seven appearances, Hogan caught just 8-of-15 passes for 67 yards (4.5 per target / 9.6 per game) and no touchdowns.
When healthy, Hogan has been a decent deep threat. Over 72 games from 2014-18, he posted solid averages of 8.7 yards per target and 13.7 yards per reception while pulling in 18 touchdowns, an average of 4.0 per 16 games. Of his 22 career touchdowns (including the playoffs), 10 came from 20+ yards out. Hogan led all qualified players with 17.9 yards per reception in 2016. In 2015, he ranked 17th among qualified players with 15.2 yards per reception.
Altogether, Hogan owns career averages of 2.1 receptions on 3.4 targets for 28.2 yards and 0.19 touchdowns (pace for 34/54 for 451 yards and 3 TDs over 16 games).
Hogan is also known as a decent run blocker, an area where the Jets’ wide receivers were awful in 2019.
Throughout the offseason, Demaryius Thomas has been rumored to be a potential late addition for the Jets after playing decently well in 2019, but it’s Hogan who becomes the first veteran addition at wide receiver for depth purposes.
Regardless, keep your eye on a Thomas return. Hogan improves the wide receiver depth a little bit, but he is far from good enough to put the position off-limits. Most importantly, considering the lack of practice time afforded here in 2010, it makes sense to have Thomas back given his long-time experience with Adam Gase.
For now, look for Hogan to compete with Vyncint Smith for the team’s No. 4 wide receiver spot (No. 3 on the outside) heading into Week 1 – if and when Smith gets healthy, that is.
Gase: Vyncent Smith has core injury. WR corps hurting. No Mims today on practice field.
— Kim Jones (@KimJonesSports) August 16, 2020
#Jets injury update: WR Vyncint Smith has a core injury and will see a specialist.
Rookie Cam Clark is week-to-week with a shoulder injury.
CB Brian Poole was held out as a precaution. Adam Gase said he dealt with dehydration after Friday’s practice.
Denzel Mims DNP (hammy).
— Ethan Greenberg (@EGreenbergJets) August 16, 2020
Smith is battling a core injury, with the timetable for his return unclear at the moment. As Denzel Mims also deals with a hamstring injury, the health of the position was certainly a big factor in prompting the Hogan pickup.
If Smith cannot heal up in time to compete with Hogan, then there is a good chance that the Jersey kid is the Jets’ No. 4 wide receiver in Week 1. Depending on Mims’ health and the speed with which he can pick up the offense, Hogan may even be the No. 3 receiver when the team heads out to Buffalo.
