Davis, rook already on the same page
Corey Davis said he felt his chemistry with rookie quarterback Zach Wilson begin to click in training camp — and it certainly transitioned into game action.
For all that went wrong in the Jets’ season-opening loss to Sam Darnold and the Panthers, Davis made the threeyear, $37.5 million deal he signed with the organization in March look like the right move. He led the offense with five catches on seven targets for 97 yards and scored both Jets touchdowns in the 19-14 loss at Carolina, pulling down three passes of more than 20 yards from Wilson.
“It’s probably going to take time for us to really jell and get on that same report, which I think we are,” Davis said after practice Wednesday. “We’ve been working hard, not only just me and him, but the offense as a whole. We came a long way and there’s still a lot of improvement to go but we’re ready for this week.”
After signing with the Jets as a free agent following four seasons with the Titans, Davis was dubbed as Gang Green’s No. 1 wide receiver early on. Fostering chemistry between Davis and Wilson was clearly a priority during training camp, and now it’s showing signs of paying off.
“To have that [connection] with Zach and to be able to communicate,” coach Robert
Saleh said of Davis, who fell just 16 yards short of 1,000 receiving yards last season. “Have knowledge of coverage and how to get open and how to create separation and to be that reliable, sure-handed guy that you know he’s going to be exactly where he’s supposed to be, when he needs to be there. And he’s going to do it exactly the way it needs to be done.
“For a quarterback to have that trust is priceless and that’s what Corey gives.” In some rare positive personnel news, Jamison Crowder (COVID-19) and Keelan Cole (knee) are expected to be available for the home-opener against the Patriots on Sunday after the two were ruled out in Week 1. Without them, Davis stepped up — but the same can’t be said for Elijah Moore.
The Jets’ 2021 second-round pick struggled in his NFL debut, catching one of four targets for minus-3 yards. There were certainly some first-game jitters for Moore, but many of the passes to him were in his hands and ended up incomplete.
As one of the team’s leaders, Davis confirmed that he had a discussion with Moore and told him there will always be highs and lows in his career.
“That was his first game,” Davis said. “He’s probably gonna take away from it differently than I would. There’s a lot to learn from it, that’s for sure. That’s all you got to focus on, worry about what is in these walls, nothing else really matters.”
The Patriots are sure to focus on covering Davis on Sunday afternoon, but the 26-year-old is prepared to face a sound New England defense. Head coach Bill Belichick had some high praise for Davis, referring to him as an “outstanding” player who can make a lot of contested catches. “Obviously, playing under Bill, he’s gonna get you right,” Davis said. “They make few mistakes, they fly around and they play hard. That’ll be a good challenge for us as an offense.”