New York Jets special teams coordinator Chris Banjo has his hands full this upcoming season. He has to find a starting kicker, punter, and returner over the next few months.
The good news is that Banjo doesn’t have to worry about finding a kick returner.
New York seems to be set in that regard.
Jets Give Special Teams Update
Kene Nwangwu, the former fourth-round pick from the Minnesota Vikings and All-Pro kick returner, is back with the Jets for another season. When healthy, he is one of the better kick returners in the game.
In the second season of the new return rules, having a player like him on kickoffs is incredibly important.
It’s why Banjo is thrilled to work with Nwangwu.
“If you just look at his history as a player in the NFL, he’s been dynamic anytime he’s had an opportunity to be back there as a ball carrier,” Banjo said during minicamp. “So, in terms of what I’ve seen from him right now during our process, he’s working his butt off trying to get better every day and doing his best job to compete.”
Finding a punt returner will be a bit more complex for the Jets. They have multiple options there, including Xavier Gipson, Arian Smith, and many others. Nwangwu has never fielded punts at the NFL level, so it’s hard to see him as a “no-brainer” option like he is at kick returner.
There are also obvious concerns for the team at both punter and kicker. There’s a chance the starters in Week 1 are not on the roster currently.
It’s what makes Nwangwu so crucial on special teams for the Jets.
Having an All-Pro caliber returner is important for any team in the modern era with the new rule changes. Nwangwu adds a different dynamic to the Jets that they haven’t had in quite some time – a kind of returner that can change a game on a dime for their team.