Ashtyn Davis, Vinny Curry expected to miss opener
Speaking to the media following the first practice of training camp, New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh set a conservative return date of Week 2 for Ashtyn Davis and Vinny Curry. Davis is on the team’s Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list while Curry is the team’s only player on the Non-Football Injury (NFI) list.
Here at #Jets camp, coach Robert Saleh says DB Ashtyn Davis, on the PUP list, has a conservative return date of Week 2 of the regular season. Same with DE Vinny Curry. DT Quinnen Williams should be back by the opener.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 28, 2021
A roadblock for the second-year safety
Davis continues to rehab from a foot injury that ended his rookie season in Week 13.
While Davis was not expected to compete for a starting spot, as Marcus Maye and Lamarcus Joyner are projected to hold down the two starting safety positions, there could be sub-package snaps available for Davis to earn. In addition, with Maye’s status beyond the 2021 season in doubt, Davis has the chance to make a case to the Jets that he can be relied upon as Maye’s future replacement.
Without any opportunities to showcase his development in training camp or the preseason, Davis will enter his all-important second season at a bit of a disadvantage.
While Davis is out, former Falcons safety Sharrod Neasman will likely step in as the third safety on the depth chart.
Curry’s absence opens the door for young edge rushers
Curry was added to the NFI list on July 23. His injury has yet to be disclosed.
With Curry on the sidelines, other young edge rushers will get the chance to step up and make their case to earn snaps in his absence. Second-year men Bryce Huff and Jabari Zuniga will lead the competition while Robert Saleh’s former 49ers favorite Ronald Blair is also in the mix. Don’t count out undrafted free agent Hamilcar Rashed Jr., either.
Kyle Phillips should enter the edge-rushing fray once he returns from the PUP list. He had a procedure on his ankle after his 2020 sophomore season was ended just seven weeks in.
Quinnen Williams joins Davis and Phillips as the third player who remains on the PUP list. Williams had foot surgery on May 5, which was estimated to have a 10-12 week recovery timetable. Today (July 28) marked the 12-week point, but Williams remains sidelined. Saleh says that the star defensive tackle should be ready for Week 1.
