HOLD ON, TIGHT
2-game ban awaits Seferian-Jenkins to start season
Thursday night’s preseason finale against the Eagles will be the last time Austin Seferian-Jenkins will be on the field with his Jets teammates for a while.
The tight end, who had a great spring and summer, is suspended for the first two games of the regular season as a result of a DUI arrest last September.
“It sucks a lot,” Seferian-Jenkins said this week.
He does not have to disappear completely. Since he was suspended under the substance-abuse policy, he can be in the Jets’ training center during the suspension, attend meetings, and be in the weight room and locker room. He can’t participate in practice or games. His teammate, Jalin Marshall, will be completely away for the team for four weeks since he was suspended for performanceenhancing drugs.
Sefer ian-Jenkins already is focused on Week 3 when the Jets play the Dolphins at Met Life Stadium.
“The good thing is I put in a lot of hard work,” Seferian-Jenkins said .“I really dedicated myself to my teammates, to myself. Whenever I get that opportunity togo out there — Week 3, the home opener against Miami — I am going to be really excited. I am going to cherish it. I am going to cherish the other 14 games that I have an opportunity to play in this year.”
Seferian-Jenkins could be a huge part of the Jets when he returns. He lost more than 30 pounds this offseason and quit drinking alcohol. The changes were noticeable in practice. Seferian-Jenkins looked like he could be a go-to guy for the Jets quarterbacks — something they desperately need.
“I think camp and OTAs really went the best it could have gone for me,” Seferian-Jenkins said. “Everyone wants to do a little bit better and improve and do a little bit better, but I really like the way camp went for me. I really like how the preseason has gone for me. I’m just getting better. Working on my routes, making sure my blocking is getting better so I can really be that complete tight end that never comes off the field. I’m closer to that. That’s a really big thing. I’m just going to keep working.”
Seferian-Jenkins should get plenty of work Thursday night against the Eagles since he will be on the shelf for two weeks after the game. Coach Todd Bowles said last week he wanted to get the two sus- pended players enough reps in the final preseason games.
“You want them to play as much as they can because they’re not going to be playing for a while,” Bowles said. “But, at the same time, you have to get the guys ready who are going to play. It’s a fine line. They’ll get some reps.”
Though Seferian-Jenkins will be in team meetings and the cafeteria with teammates, he acknowledges it will be strange on the two Sundays when his team is in Buffalo and Oakland, and he is on the couch watching. He had a similar experience last year after the Buccaneers cut him and be fore the Jets picked him up.
“It’ s going to be a different feeling because I know how hard these guys have worked,” he said. “I’m excited for them. They deserve to get those Ws.”
With Seferian-Jenkins out, Eric Tomlinson figures to be the starting tight end. The other tight ends who have gotten the majority of playing time this preseason are rookie Jordan Leggett, Chris Gragg and Jason Vander Laan.
For now, Seferian-Jenkins is trying to fast-forward a few weeks.
“As soon as I get back, I know I’m going to make a huge difference,” he said. “I feel fairly conf ident that I’m going to do the best I’ve ever done [this season].”