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New York Jets: 4 Players that need to bounce back in 2017

By Stephen Smith

Oct 2, 2016; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson (96) celebrates after a blocked pass in the second half at MetLife Stadium. Seattle Seahawks defeat the New York Jets 27-17. Mandatory Credit: William Hauser-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 2, 2016; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson (96) celebrates after a blocked pass in the second half at MetLife Stadium. Seattle Seahawks defeat the New York Jets 27-17. Mandatory Credit: William Hauser-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 11, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; New York Jets tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins (88) carries the ball ahead of San Francisco 49ers strong safety Antoine Bethea (41) during the fourth quarter at Levi’s Stadium. The New York Jets defeated the San Francisco 49ers 23-17. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 11, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; New York Jets tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins (88) carries the ball ahead of San Francisco 49ers strong safety Antoine Bethea (41) during the fourth quarter at Levi’s Stadium. The New York Jets defeated the San Francisco 49ers 23-17. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Austin Seferian-Jenkins

The 24-year old tight end is suspended for the first two games of the upcoming season due to his DUI arrest last year while with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Jets claimed him on waivers after  Tampa Bay released him last Fall and Seferian-Jenkins “rewarded” his new squad by recording just 10 receptions for 110 yards and no touchdowns in seven games. With the addition of tight end Jordan Leggett, a fifth-round draft pick this year, there will be pressure on Seferian-Jenkins to produce or Leggett could quickly pass him on the depth chart.

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The University of Washington product seems to be taking steps to revive his career. According to Pro Football Talk, Seferian-Jenkins has lost 25 pounds and stopped drinking on Jan. 21. He attended rehab on an outpatient basis four days a week. The 6-6, 258-pounder seems truly recommitted to turning his football career and more importantly, his life around.

This is a crucial season for Seferian-Jenkins. Leggett could be nipping at his heels and the Jets desperately need to get some production from the tight end position. These numbers are well known by now – in the last two seasons (32 games), Jets tight ends have caught a grand total of 26 passes. What an embarrassment.

By all accounts, it appears that Seferian-Jenkins is working hard to live up to the high expectations that come with being a second-round draft choice (in 2014 with Tampa Bay). It’s none to soon because his Jets career could be on the line in 2017.

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