A week that began with the Jets losing one top receiver to a season-ending injury could end with another top target missing Sunday’s game against the Saints.
Rookie receiver Elijah Moore, who has been a bright spot while taking on a bigger role in recent weeks, did not practice for a second straight day Thursday because of a quad injury.
The Jets are already entering the game without Corey Davis, who will undergo season-ending core-muscle surgery. But unless Moore improves enough to practice on Friday, they could also be in danger of not having him against the Saints.
“It’s been cool because we’ve sat in here since after the draft and told you that we believe in this receiving corps. We’re really deep,” offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur said Thursday. “Whether Elijah goes or not, obviously we know what’s happened to Corey, but it’s next man up. It’s always going to be that way and it really doesn’t matter.”
The Jets did receive one reinforcement Thursday when they activated receiver Keelan Cole off the COVID-19 list. He and Denzel Mims already figured to see more snaps moving forward without Davis, but that could especially be the case if Moore is unable to go.
Running back Tevin Coleman also missed a second straight day of practice with a concussion, another weapon that Zach Wilson could be without Sunday.
“I really don’t feel like it’s changed much,” Wilson said of the missing weapons. “I feel like we’ve had a good week of practice and haven’t lacked anything.”
Another week, another kicker.
Eddy Pineiro, who signed with the team on Monday to replace Alex Kessman, became the ninth kicker the Jets have had since 2017.
“I think everybody in this building is frustrated with the position, obviously,” special teams coordinator Brant Boyer said. “That’s been a position that hasn’t done a good enough job and that falls on me as the coordinator. We’ve got to do whatever it takes. [GM Joe Douglas] and his staff, I give them credit for bringing in guys and trying to fix it. But there’s obviously a big pressure to get it fixed.”
The Jets held a kicking competition last week between Kessman and Matt Ammendola. Kessman won out, but then missed a pair of extra points in the 33-18 loss to the Eagles.
Pineiro has kicked one season in the NFL, for the Bears in 2019, going 23-for-28 in field goals and 27-for-29 in extra points.
“He’s kicked really well this week,” Boyer said. “He hits a consistent ball. He’s a proven player that’s made kicks in this league over and over. If he goes out there, we have confidence in him. We’re trying to get it fixed.”
RG Laurent Duvernay-Tardif (ankle), CB Michael Carter II (concussion) and TE Trevon Wesco (ankle) did not practice for a second straight day. TE Ryan Griffin (knee/ankle), LB C.J. Mosley (back) and DT Sheldon Rankins (knee) all returned in limited participation.
The Saints placed former Jets RB/WR Ty Montgomery on the COVID-19 list, putting his status for Sunday in jeopardy.