Adam Gase sounded downright wistful at the possibility of getting Chris Herndon back on Sunday against the Dolphins. He also isn’t sure it will happen.
“I’m hoping,” the Jets coach said. “He says he feels better. Hopefully we can get him out there and he can cut it loose.”
The tight end, who has yet to play in a game this season, is still working his way back from a hamstring injury he sustained while he was serving a four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s substance-abuse policy.
“He’s really good. I just want him to feel right, though. I don’t want to put him out there and then we have a setback and it’s longer,” Gase said. “He’s going nuts as it is with [missing] four games and then he gets hurt and he’s trying to get back and he’s tired of sitting in meetings.”
Herndon has yet to practice fully, though he did take part on a limited basis on Wednesday. As a rookie a year ago, he caught 39 passes for 502 yards and four touchdowns.
“His skill set, he can do all three phases,” Gase said. “He can pass protect, he can run block, he’s a vertical threat. When things break down, Sam [Darnold] finds him. They’ve got a great chemistry. It’s like Sam says, he’s a baller. He gets out there and makes plays.”
Losing well-liked defensive lineman Leonard Williams in a trade to the Giants was a tough blow to the Jets’ locker room, especially to outside linebacker Jordan Jenkins. The two were close, dating back to their days as high school recruits and then NFL teammates the last four years. They even visited a few colleges together before Jenkins attended Georgia and Williams went to USC.
“It definitely sucks, but I’m happy he still gets to stay close, happy he didn’t have to move or anything. I still get to see him whenever we want,” Jenkins said. “But it sucks losing a guy like that. Still wish the best for him.”
The two will see each other soon, when the Jets and Giants meet a week from Sunday.
“That’s the game I’m waiting for,” Jenkins said. “It’s going to be different.”
After missing the last two games, left tackle Kelvin Beachum (ankle) remained out of practice Wednesday, though Gase said he was hopeful he would return Sunday against the Dolphins.
Also out of practice were wide receiver Josh Bellamy (foot/shoulder), cornerback Trumaine Johnson (ankles), safety Rontez Miles (neck/hip), linebackers Neville Hewitt (stinger) and C.J. Mosley (groin), running back Trenton Cannon (foot/ankle) and center Ryan Kalil (knee/elbow). Defensive lineman Henry Anderson (shoulder), wide receivers Braxton Berrios (hamstring) and Demaryius Thomas (hamstring), running back Ty Montgomery (not injury related), offensive guard Brian Winters (shoulder/knee) and defensive lineman Steve McLendon were limited.
Darnold will wear a splint on his left thumb after spraining it against the Jaguars, but Gase doesn’t think it will limit him in any way.
Defensive lineman Nathan Shepherd is eligible to return Sunday after serving a six-game suspension for violating the league’s performance-enhancing drug policy. The Jets have a roster exemption for him this week. … The Jets placed linebacker Albert McClellan (concussion on injured reserve and added linebacker BJ Bello and defensive back Arthur Maulet to the active roster. They also signed linebacker Leo Koloamatangi to the practice squad.
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