New York Jets: Rookies can diminish absence, role of Jeremy Kerley

The NFL has suspended New York Jets wide receiver Jeremy Kerley for four games. Now it’s time for three rookies on offense to step up.

The New York Jets have one rookie on offense who has stepped up, even though it was just for one great game. Against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Elijah McGuire undoubtedly had his best game of the season. He had 12 touches (10 carries and two catches) for 131 yards and one touchdown.

After the PED suspension for Jeremy Kerley, now he, ArDarius Stewart and Chad Hansen must step up as rookies and fill the void. What’s more, they need to make it hard for the coaches to even consider bringing back Kerley in his current role.

McGuire is listed on the Jets depth chart as the backup punt returner. So he will have to fill that void. Stewart is listed on the Jets depth chart behind Robby Anderson, and Hansen is listed behind Kerley. So both players will see much more playing time in three and four wide receiver sets for the Jets.

It’s an opportunity to prove to the coaches they belong and to move Kerley to the back of the line where he belongs — because he’s unlikely to return to the Jets in 2018.

As far as the opportunity for Hansen and Stewart to prove they belong at the top of the depth chart for 2018 goes, the Jets can save $8.5 million for 2018 if they want to move on from Jermaine Kearse. It’s not that he’s a bad player, he just might not fit into their plans if Hansen and Stewart can prove their immediate value.

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If they make fans and the organization forget about Kerley, they can also have the Jets dreaming about the 2018 NFL Playoffs. They’re fringe playoff contenders now, and could be contenders next year with the right pieces in place. They drafted these offensive weapons in back-to-back rounds for a reason. Now it’s time for them to prove Mike Maccagnan right.