The New York Jets made a big decision regarding Eric Decker‘s injury: the team placed him on injured reserve, thus ending his season. Although a partially torn rotator cuff is always a big deal, head coach Todd Bowles considered Decker week-to-week at first, with hopes of him returning this season. Unfortunately he won’t be back and that will affect the Jets both in the short term and the long term.
Eric Decker’s Injury Will Have a Big Impact on the New York Jets
The Jets’ Playoff Chances Have Diminished
This news about Decker’s move to IR came about a week before the Jets would take the field for Monday Night Football against the Arizona Cardinals.
It has been stated over and over again how the Jets have one of the best wide receiver duos in the NFL. Brandon Marshall finished last year tied for fourth in the NFL in receiving yards with 1,502, and tied for first in touchdown receptions with 14. Decker solidified the duo as he finished 25th in the NFL in receiving yards with 1,027, and sixth in touchdown receptions with 12.
While Ryan Fitzpatrick has not been doing a good job this year, both receivers started to put up good numbers. After a slow start to Week One, both receivers looked like themselves the next week against the Buffalo Bills in Week Two. Marshall had 101 yards and Decker had 126 yards and a touchdown. The next week was Fitzpatrick’s six-interception fiasco, but also the last game Decker played. While Marshall has continued to play well, the absence of Decker can be felt.
Things looked great to start the season as Quincy Enunwa also emerged as a good receiver. The whole wideout corps was shaken up however, as Jalin Marshall and Decker both went down around the same time. Since Enunwa’s best fit is as a slot receiver, undrafted free agent Robby Anderson has been pushed up the ranks, but his production is nowhere near what Decker is used to providing. If the team was 4-1 or 3-2 maybe this wouldn’t have such a big impact. Now with the Jets at 1-4, this injury all but ends any playoff hopes for the franchise.
It’s Time For Ryan Fitzpatrick to Take a Seat
Fitzpatrick has been anything but pretty this year. Through five games he has thrown five touchdowns and 10 interceptions. While six of those came in one game, he hasn’t helped the team otherwise. The only game he won was when Decker contributed with 126 yards and a touchdown.
The team sits at 1-4 and would need to go 9-2 to match their record from last year. Even if they do, they could still miss the playoffs, like last year. While the schedule gets easier after the game with the Cardinals, the Jets still face the New England Patriots twice. At this point in the season 10-6 looks unattainable.
It is very unlikely Fitzpatrick is back next year, so the Jets should try out some of the quarterbacks on their roster to see if there are any diamonds in the rough. If not, they should focus on finally drafting a franchise quarterback regardless of whether they have to trade up or not. As of now, DeShone Kizer of Norte Dame, Brad Kaaya of Miami, and DeShaun Watson of Clemson look to be some of the top targets in the 2017 NFL Draft.
Fitzpatrick will start against the Cardinals and if the Jets win, Bowles will almost definitely continue to play him. If they lose and go 1-5, Fitzpatrick should definitely be benched. Even if Decker were around or coming back soon, the Jets wouldn’t be able to turn things around. The fact he won’t play another snap makes playing Fitzpatrick at this point very questionable.
Devin Smith Will Have a Chance
The Jets selected Devin Smith with their second-round pick in 2015. Smith played a little last year before suffering a season-ending injury in December. With Decker gone, Smith has a real chance for some playing time once he comes back from injury in the next week or two.
After being drafted, Smith looked like a receiver that could make an immediate impact. At Ohio State, Smith was the type of deep-threat that the Jets lacked. However, Smith played in 10 games and only had 115 yards and one touchdown. Of course, with Decker and Marshall on the field, Smith didn’t have as many chances as he may have had on a different team. Now with Decker gone, he can either put himself back in the wide receiver mix or end up like most of the other Jets second-round picks.
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