NY Jets injuries: Jamison Crowder close to debut, two DBs return to practice

Jamison Crowder “trending” toward season debut

The New York Jets could finally be getting back their starting slot receiver.

Jamison Crowder missed the Jets’ season-opener after being placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list and then missed the following two games with a groin injury. His time on the sidelines appears to be close to an end.

Head coach Robert Saleh said that Crowder is “trending” toward making his debut on Sunday as the Jets host the Tennessee Titans at MetLife Stadium.

Robert Saleh says WR Jamison Crowder (groin) is trending towards playing Sunday against the Titans.

— Ethan Greenberg (@EGreenbergJets) September 29, 2021

Braxton Berrios has filled in for Crowder as the Jets’ primary slot receiver and done a decent job, leading the Jets with 150 receiving yards, but he is not quite the player that Crowder is. Since 2020, the Jets have averaged only 8.4 points per game with Berrios starting in Crowder’s place versus 16.5 points per game with Crowder healthy.

Ashtyn Davis, Sharrod Neasman return to practice

The Jets’ banged-up defense has received a couple of reinforcements, as safeties Ashtyn Davis and Sharrod Neasman have returned to practice.

S Ashtyn Davis and S Sharrod Neasman have returned to practice.

📰 https://t.co/bX9rgO3Oo0 pic.twitter.com/sMupWMKzK2

— New York Jets (@nyjets) September 29, 2021

Davis and Neasman were each placed on injured reserve to begin the season. Players on injured reserve must miss a minimum of three games, so this week marks the beginning of each player’s eligibility to return to practice. Once a player returns to practice, the team has 21 days to place them on the active roster.

Davis has been continuing to work his way back from foot surgery that ended his 2020 rookie season. Neasman has been nursing a hamstring injury.

With starting free safety Lamarcus Joyner suffering a season-ending injury early in the team’s season-opener against Carolina, Adrian Colbert has started at free safety alongside Marcus Maye over the past two weeks.

Maye has been playing strong safety this season, experiencing some struggles at the position just as he did at the beginning of 2020. He is tied for fifth among all safeties in missed tackles (4) and is allowing a career-high 24.7 yards per game in coverage.