The Jets’ offense has spent much of the season waiting for the group to be whole, and that patience is starting to wear thin for fans. The injuries have piled up, the results have lagged behind expectations, and the biggest question now is simple: how long before things actually start to click?
Health has been the main issue. Over the last couple of weeks, New York has been dealing with multiple offensive injuries, and there’s at least some optimism that the situation could improve in the coming weeks.
Breece Hall did not return against the Miami Dolphins, and that absence was felt. At the same time, it’s fair to say the Jets should not have needed a full-strength lineup to handle Miami.
Losing to the Dolphins this season is “inexcusable,” even if they’re not quite the punchline some have made them out to be. Miami may not be loaded with top-end talent, but it is still a team that competes. The Jets learned that the hard way.
There have been some encouraging signs, though. Omar Cooper has been “great,” and Garrett Wilson was producing well before the Dolphins game. Through the season before that matchup, Wilson had 35 catches for 418 yards, and there’s a sense he still has another gear.
Quarterback Geno Smith has also been steady enough to keep the idea of a turnaround alive. In Eric Allen’s view, the ingredients are there if the Jets can finally get on the same field at the same time.
“I'm bullish on the Jets' offensive potential and their bounty of playmakers. Nobody has made any excuses at 1 Jets Drive, but the Green & White have been whole for only a few plays this season. WR2 Adonai Mitchell(4 games), WR3 Omar Cooper Jr. (4 games), RB1 Breece Hall (3 games) and LG1 Dylan Parham (3 games) have combined to miss 14 contests.
“Despite the moving parts, QB Geno Smith is hitting on 69% of his passes with 7 TDs and 1 INT while WR Garrett Wilson leads the AFC in receptions with 35. The ground game has been going of late with Braelon Allen ripping off nine 10-plus yard carries the past 2 games,” Eric Allen of the Jets wrote.
That doesn’t mean the offense is about to be transformed overnight. Even when Hall and the other injured pieces are back, it could still take some time for everyone to settle in. But with the missing talent starting to trend back toward availability, the Jets at least have a path forward.
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Jets O Line Problems Have Put One Starter Under Serious Pressure
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Josh Myers has become the focal point of that criticism, with his play at center coming under the microscope for penalties, pressures allowed and shaky blocking in the trenches. The evaluation is blunt enough that it raises a real question about whether the Jets need to make a change there, even if the decision has not been made yet. [Read more 🡒]