New York Jets Even More Banged Up After Week 12 Loss, Adding Injuries to Insult

New York Jets Wide Receiver Chaz Schilens — The Star-Ledger-US PRESSWIRE

The New York Jets‘ Week 12 loss could be a game that impacts more than just Thanksgiving for Gang Green.

After falling to 4-7 on the season, the Jets have a tough task ahead of them, as even a five-game winning streak to end the season might not earn them a playoff berth. The way they’ve played lately, it doesn’t seem realistic anyway.

We all know about the Jets’ offensive struggles. Mark Sanchez hasn’t gotten it done, but he’s still the guy, as long as Rex Ryan has his way. The Jets’ receivers are young and inexperienced, which doesn’t make it any easier.

It was a brutal blow when the Jets lost veteran Santonio Holmes to a season-ending foot injury in September, especially since it left 26-year-old Chaz Schilens as the most experienced wide receiver on the entire roster.

The Jets’ wide receivers most of the season have been led by 24-year-old second-year man Jeremy Kerley, along with Schilens, 21-year-old rookie Stephen Hill and 26-year-old Clyde Gates, another second-year player.

The receiving corps was supposed to be anchored by Holmes, who had taken up a strong leadership role with the young wideouts. Instead, it’s been a lot of learning on the job, with predictably shaky results for the most part.

Now, it appears that Schilens and Gates suffered head injuries in the Jets’ loss on Thursday, meaning that thin receiving corps is now even thinner. For the Jets, when it rains, it pours. Maybe even typhoons.

As of right now, the only three healthy receivers on the Jets roster are Kerley, Hill and rookie seventh-rounder Jordan White. White made his NFL debut this past week, but he was only on the field for one offensive snap.

Obviously, the Jets have time to scour the waiver wire for veteran retreads, but it’s not as if they’re going to find anything worthwhile on the scrap heap. Another stint for the twice-released Jason Hill is one possibility.

Bottom line. If you think it can’t get any worse for the Jets’ passing game, well, guess again.

It’s just been that kind of year for Rex Ryan and company.