SterlingShepard

Oct 12

The Jets have slowly but surely lost most of their wide receivers due to injury, but this week, they got one back.

New York started the year with a clear top six wide receivers on the depth chart, but then Patrick started the year on injured reserve. Since then, Omar Cooper Jr. and Arian Smith have also landed on injured reserve, while Adonai Mitchell has missed three straight games due to a finger injury. Over the last two weeks, Garrett Wilson has been one starter, while Isaiah Williams became an every-situation wide receiver. Sterling Shepard was added to the practice squad mid-season and had been the third receiver. Patrick returned to practice from injured reserve on Wednesday and was activated off injured reserve on Saturday. The Jets then waived wide receiver Jamaal Pritchett. Shepard was not called up from the practice squad this week. New York had a simple wide receiver rotation, with Patrick playing in 11 and 12 personnel, while Williams returned to the slot role in 11 personnel only. The only time Patrick or Wilson were off the field was in 13 personnel. Wilson led the Jets in receiving with seven receptions for 104 yards and a touchdown, while Patrick was second with two receptions for 26 yards. Patrick will likely lose his job once Mitchell is healthy, but he will be the top backup on the outside. Cooper is also eligible to return from injured reserve, and he may take the slot role back from Williams.

Jeremy Bergman·Sep 22

The star of Tampa Bay's early season success has been Emeka Egbuka, and that was the case again on Sunday. Egbuka's one-handed catch in the first half woke Tampa Bay out of its early funk and led to a Mike Evans TD. The early Offensive Rookie of the Year favorite paced all Bucs pass catchers with six catches for 85 yards, including a big 28-yard catch-and-run on the game-winning drive. Unfortunately, Egbuka's breakout might be all the more necessary in the near future. The veteran Evans left the proceedings late in the fourth quarter with a hamstring injury and did not return, leaving Egbuka and Sterling Shepard to carry the load. Chris Godwin , who's been out for the start of the season, could return in Week 4, providing a reprieve if Evans is to miss significant time. But regardless, Tampa Bay has a star in the making in Egbuka, already making game-saving plays on the regular.