New York Jets: 3 Players with something to prove vs. Eagles
1. Running back Trenton Cannon
When the Jets drafted Cannon, they hoped his experience in special teams would be the catalyst to him making the roster, because their special teams has been awful in recent years. There are two problems.
Once he got into game situations, he proved to be an unreliable punt returner. That’s understandable, because he had never done that before. So, there were going to be bumps in the road there.
The second, which is understandable again, because he’s a rookie, it that his problem returning punt seemed to trickle into his kick return duties. He allowed his issues returning punts to mentally frazzle him.
However, there’s a silver lining in all of this. He has some skills in the backfield that work. With Elijah McGuire injured — and not likely to be available Week 1 — Cannon can make this team in the running back rotation while working on his issues returning. If the Jets decide to place McGuire on the Reserved/Injured, Designated to Return list, that would open a spot for Cannon to do just that.
Next. One roster cut each team should make, but won't. dark
If he improves his return game over those six to eight weeks, he could give the Jets the return specialist they have desperately needed since the days of Santana Moss. He’s going to have to show something out of the backfield on Thursday night, though.