New York Jets: Terrelle Pryor faces a make-or-break 2018 season

New York Jets wide receiver Terrelle Pryor is facing a crucial 2018 campaign in his first season with a new team.

Any was you slice it, 2017 was a disastrous year for Terrelle Pryor. The Ohio State product was signed to a one-year free agent pact with the Washington Redskins to bolster a wide receiving corps that had lost Pierre Garcon to free agency. So much for grandiose plans. Pryor tore a ligament in his right ankle in Week One and never fully recovered. He recorded just 20 receptions for 240 yards and a touchdown before having surgery and being placed on I.R. in November.

The 6-4, 228-pounder is a New York Jet these days and his NFL future is certainly in doubt. Now 29 years old, Pryor has not participated in any off-season practices so far. He may not even be ready for the start of training camp in late July.

So why did Gang Green even bother to ink him to a one-year, $4.5 million contract for 2018? For one thing, Pryor is just one year removed from a 77-reception, 1,007-yard season with the Cleveland Browns in 2016.

The Jeanette, PA native averaged 13.1 yards per catch and scored four touchdowns. He added a rushing touchdown as well. Pryor is a dynamic offensive threat when healthy. Therein lies the rub though. Will he finally be healthy when the 2018 season kicks off in Detroit in September?

He’s a huge question mark. Pryor has started just 29 games in five NFL seasons. The injury bug always seems to bite him. He blames his ankle injury for his terrible 2017 campaign with the Redskins, per ESPN.com:

"“I couldn’t focus on my game because I was worried about my foot,” he said at the conclusion of last week’s minicamp. “It took control of my mind. Right now, I’m healthy” — well, not really — “and ready to get back to form and have a dominant year.”"

The Jets could use all the quality targets they can get heading into training camp. Their depth chart currently consists of starters Robby Anderson and Jermaine Kearse. Quincy Enunwa is making his way back from neck surgery which caused him to miss all of 2016. Chad Hansen and ArDarius Stewart are coming off disappointing rookie seasons.

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Their tight end situation is in total flux with no definite starter at this point in time. Uncertainty abounds. You can see how a healthy Pryor can make quite an impact for a team that ranked 24th in the league in passing yards last year (199 YPG).

Pryor has to get healthy and be productive again. The Jets need him. He needs the Jets. His NFL career may be on the line in 2018.