New York Jets head coach Adam Gase wants to see quarterback Sam Darnold play with the team’s three starting wide receivers.
Denzel Mims, Breshad Perriman and Jamison Crowder stepping on the field as a package certainly changes things a bit. From a dormant offense to a Monday night explosion against the Patriots, suddenly, veteran Joe Flacco has enjoyed a slight rebirth.
Then, after a puzzling half of football that saw the New York Jets offense revert back to its casual and conservative ways, Flacco and his crew did more downfield damage. Mims went for 72 yards on three grabs, Perriman snagged a 49-yard score and even Chris Herndon emerged from his own personal witness protection program to make his greatest receiving impact of the season.
The idea that this wide-receiving trio couldn’t see the light of day until the team’s ninth game of the season is incredible to ponder. The idea that Sam Darnold hasn’t yet experienced the trio is even more mind-boggling.
Ten games in, 10 losses and not one that featured Darnold with Mims, Perriman and Crowder together. Head coach Adam Gase is hoping that changes as soon as possible.
“I’d like to see him play with our starting wide receivers,” Gase told the media on his regularly-scheduled Monday conference call.
It sounds like everything is good with Sam Darnold when throwing the ball. The key is when he's tackled, driven into the turf on that shoulder. #TakeFlight
Gase: "I'd like to see him play with our starting wide receivers."
— Robby Sabo (@RobbySabo) November 23, 2020
Darnold, 23, has now missed four games in 2020. After injuring his shoulder against the Denver Broncos on Thursday Night Football, Darnold missed time and returned, only to miss a couple of more games after reinjuring it in Kansas City.
Gase revealed the current concerns. Darnold can throw the ball with little-to-no issues. It becomes hairy when thinking about live-action. How Darnold’s shoulder reacts to a rough tackle, especially when driven into the turf, is the real concern.
“It’s going to be more about where his pain tolerance is,” Gase said. “It sounds like him throwing the ball—he feels pretty good about that. It’s going to be more about when he gets hit and driven into the turf and how his shoulder is going to react to that.”
The man himself sounded more optimistic about his availability this week. Darnold told the media that he “feels good” when throwing the ball, and the overall feeling about his chances against the Miami Dolphins at MetLife Stadium this Sunday is much sunnier than this time last week.
“I’m nearing that point to where I have a little bit more confidence in my shoulder to be able to withstand a hit,” Darnold told the media on Monday. “That’s a good thing.”
Other injury news
The top concern—other than Darnold—comes on the right side of the offensive line. Right tackle George Fant went down hard against the Bolts and didn’t return.
Currently dealing with a knee and ankle sprain, Gase and the Jets will take things one day at a time with the right-side anchor.
Jets' injury update per Adam Gase:
Fant: knee/ankle sprain, see how it plays out.
Perine: high ankle sprain, not looking good for Sunday.
Edoga: low ankle sprain, looking good for Sunday.
Cashman: hamstring, unknown.
Darnold: shoulder, see where he's at on Wed. #TakeFlight— Robby Sabo (@RobbySabo) November 23, 2020
Rookie La’Mical Perine is another story. It’s been revealed that he’s dealing with a high-ankle sprain, the worst of the ankle sprains. Don’t expect Perine to suit up when the Jets take on the Fins this Sunday.
Chuma Edoga is also dealing with an ankle sprain, but it’s of the low variety, an injury that’s much easier to overcome. His chances of dressing Sunday remain solid.
Blake Cashman‘s status is still very much unknown. The oft-injured inside linebacker is currently dealing with hamstring issues.
