Jets vs Bears: Who’s Dinged Up, Who Can Step Up?

Sam Darnold and Mitch Trubisky will take the field tomorrow at 1pm on CBS as the 3-4 Jets hope to get back to .500 while sporting a lengthy injury report.  As we know, this means an opportunity for some guys who are a bit lower on the depth chart to step up and make some plays.  Let’s take a look.

WR Robby Anderson, C Spencer Long, CB Trumaine Johnson doubtful for #NYJvsCHI

CB Morris Claiborne, S Marcus Maye, LT Kelvin Beachum, LB Kevin Pierre-Louis questionable pic.twitter.com/4dNHk5XidO

— New York Jets (@nyjets) October 26, 2018

Quincy Enunwa is OUT

UPDATE: Long was upgraded to questionable after the Jets submitted their final injury report at 4 p.m. Earlier in the day, on the report given to the media and seen above, Long was listed as doubtful.

Robby Anderson has missed 3 straight practices so he probably won’t play this week. With Quincy Enunwa still out, the Jets receiver corps are woefully thin. Behind Jermaine Kearse, the Jets have plenty of question marks. Recently signed Rishard Matthews could see some extended playing time with all the injuries, but he is still new to the team and learning the offense. He and Darnold have been working together a lot this week, but it’s unlikely they’ll be on the same page. Behind Matthews, Andre Roberts, Charone Peake, and Deontay Burnett are all that remains. Roberts and Peake showed last week they aren’t very good options to throw to. Roberts at 30 years old is already all he is at receiver, though he has proven to be one of the best return men in the league this season. Peake and Burnett are still young and relatively unproven, but the chances of them coming on big Sunday is unlikely. Offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates’ best option  might be getting tight ends Chris Herndon and Jordan Leggett heavily involved or it could be another long day for Darnold.

Spencer Long being switched from doubtful to questionable is a good sign, but as we saw last week his bad finger makes it hard for him to snap the ball, and in shotgun you have to hold you breath. Jonnotthan Harrison could still get the nod over him tomorrow. Have to wait and see.

Trumaine Johnson also did not practice all week so he most likely will not play either. Best news from Jets camp this week though, Buster Skrine is out of concussion protocol and will play Sunday. Since Skrine was dealing with his fourth concussion in three years, it is a great sign that he is ready to play again. Morris Claiborne, along with Kelvin Beachum, will most likely play as well. Claiborne has been one of the top corners in the league this season, and Darryl Roberts had a career game last week, so with both of them manning the outside and Skrine back in the slot, the Jets secondary again is a strength of the team and should make life hard for Mitch Trubisky.

Kevin Pierre-Louis should be back this week too, though he is more of a special teamer.

Marcus Maye is still wearing a soft cast on his thumb, so even though he is listed as questionable he is probably more doubtful. With Doug Middleton, Maye’s usual replacement, on IR now, Terrance Brooks will get the start opposite Jamal Adams. For depth, the Jets signed unproven 2015 4th round pick Ibraheim Campbell.

Harrison Glaser

Harrison is a MASSIVE, lifelong, and die hard Jets fan. When he was 7, his father took him to his first live game and told him the Jets won because of him, and he believed him. Since then, he has followed all things Jets with a passion. He has never missed a game, and follows football and the Jets year round. Harrison is a Social Studies teacher on Long Island.

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