Un-Lucky break for KR Whitehead
The Jets have run out of Luck. Lucky Whitehead, a leading candidate to win Gang Green’s kick and punt return jobs, suffered a broken foot in practice Monday and is out indefinitely, Todd Bowles said. Bowles doesn’t know if Whitehead will need surgery. “We’re still checking it out,” he said.
The injury is just the latest tough break in a miserable month for Whitehead, who was cut by the Cowboys in late July after a warrant for his arrest was mistakenly issued in Virginia. The Jets claimed Whitehead a day later to add an experienced returner, but now they’ll be forced to look elsewhere to fill that spot.
Special teams coordinator Brant Boyer said Tuesday that WR Frankie Hammond, RB Romar Morris, WR Chris Harper and RB Marcus Murphy are all in contention at kick and punt returner.
“We still have a couple guys we want to look at,” Bowles said. “As we get down in it, if we don’t see what we want, we’ll look (to sign) one.”
Whitehead was receiving limited reps at wide receiver in training camp, but his broken foot is certainly another blow to a group already reeling from the loss of clear-cut No. 1 Quincy Enunwa, who is expected to miss all of 2017 with a bulging disc in his neck.
Offensive coordinator John Morton spoke to the media for the first time in camp on Tuesday and admitted Enunwa’s injury was a gut punch. The Jets’ inexperienced receivers have dropped passes repeatedly through the first 13 practices.
“I’m not going to lie, that hurt. That hurt a little bit,” Morton said of Enunwa. “But the beauty about football, and it’s still early, the next guy has to step up, and I like the room that we have in there and we’ll see who steps up and competes to take that spot.”
AND THE KICKER IS?
Ross Martin and Chandler Catanzaro are locked in a dead heat for the Jets’ kicking job, according to Boyer. “It’s a dogfight,” Boyer said. “They’ve both done a nice job. I think they both have some strengths. But I think it’s neck-and-neck and we’ll see how it plays out here in the next three weeks.”
Martin has been considerably better than Catanzaro in practice, but Boyer said the kickers’ performances in the remaining preseason games will ultimately decide the battle. In Saturday’s 7-3 victory over the Titans, Catanzaro kicked both opportunities for the Jets, sinking an extra point and missing a 55yard attempt.
“Preseason games are everything,” Boyer said. “Once the lights turn on, that’s everything.”
INJURY REPORT
Running back Bilal Powell returned to team drills Tuesday for the first time since injuring his neck almost two weeks ago. But fellow running back Matt Forte (hamstring) sat out 11-on11 periods again. Forte hasn’t participated fully in practice since Aug. 1.
LB Frank Beltre (groin) and WR Marquess Wilson (hip) also sat out practice. LB Freddie Bishop (stinger) returned after missing Monday’s session.
JET FEAST
The Jets will be adding the following perks for fans this season: more food options at Metlife, including tacos and sushi, a revamped Jets mobile app, increased benefits for season ticket holders and a Fan Hall of Fame for the most diehard supporters.