Receivers Perriman, Crowder are likely out
FLORHAMPARK,N.J.—QuarterbackSamDarnoldandtheNew York Jets are likely to be without their toptwowidereceiverswhen theyplaytheChiefsinKansasCity on Sunday.
Coach Adam Gase ruled out Breshad Perriman before practice Friday because the receiver remains in concussion protocol after his injurylate intheJets’ 18-10 loss to Buffalo last Sunday.
Jamison Crowder also appears unlikely to play because of a groin injury that also kept him out last week. Hewaslistedasdoubtfulfor the Chiefs game.
“It’s not looking great for Sunday,” Gase acknowledged.
Crowder leads the Jets with 29 catches for 383 yards and two touchdownsdespitemissingthree previous games.
“I really felt good yesterday when we were in practice,” Gase said. “He was limited and we were trying to put him in a position where we could figure out where he was at. I felt like he felt confident when I spoke to him on MondayandTuesday. Hefeltreally good, like, ‘I’m going to be good.’ ”
Gase said there were points in practice where Crowder “looked really good,” buttherewereothers wheretheinjurywasclearlybothering him. Gase said there are no thoughts yet that Crowder will need surgery or be placed on injured reserve.
Perriman was injured late in the fourth quarter last weekwhen he took a big hit from Bills safety Micah Hyde while trying to make a catch along the sideline. He appearedtobrieflyloseconsciousness after the play, and Hyde was penalized for unnecessary roughness.
NewYork’s wide receiver corps wasbangedupthroughouttraining camp and during the early part of the season. Rookie Denzel Mims, the team’s second-round pick, madehisNFLdebutlastweekand had four catches for 42 yards after being sidelined since the summer with hamstring injuries.
Braxton Berrios, second on the team with 15 receptions, will slide again into Crowder’s role as the slot receiver. Jeff Smith and Vyncint Smith, who both recently returnedfrominjuries, aretheJets’ only other healthy wide receivers on the active roster.
“Those are things that you can’t really control,” Gase said. “I know it’s agreatopportunityforMimsin his second game.
“Getting Jeff Smith, Berrios, Vyncint — maybe we’ll be able to elevate oneofthesepracticesquad guys. It’s probably harder for Sam than anybody because it’s just a different group out there.
“I look at it as it’s a great opportunity for a lot of dudes.”
New York also has Lawrence Cager, Josh Malone, D.J. Montgomery and Jaleel Scott on the practice squad. Cager andMalone havespenttimeontheactiveroster this season. Cager was activated from the practice squad injured reserve list earlier this week after hurting an ankle against Denver on Oct. 1.
In other injuries, starting safety Bradley McDougald (shoulder) and linebacker Blake Cashman (hamstring) are both out against the Chiefs. Backup offensive lineman Conor McDermott (non-COVID-19 illness) did not practice for the third straight day and is questionable.
Kicker SamFicken(right groin) is doubtful after being limited at practice Friday. Fickenmissedlast week’s game and would again be replaced by Sergio Castillo if he can’t go. Castillo, elevated from the practice squad last week, was good on his only field goal try — a 29-yarder — and extra-point attempt against Buffalo.