The New York Jets will be without slot receiver Jamison Crowder for their Week 1 game against the Carolina Panthers. Jets coach Robert Saleh announced on Friday that Crowder remains on the reserve/COVID-19 list and has not been cleared to play for the game.
Crowder, who was rumored to be a possible cap casualty early this offseason, instead agreed to a pay cut and is expected to play a role as the team’s primary slot man. In his absence, the Jets will likely give an increased role to rookie wideout Elijah Moore, and potentially to backup slot receiver/punt returner Braxton Berrios. Free-agent acquisition Corey Davis has been the team’s No. 1 receiver during training camp and was heavily targeted during the preseason, and Keelan Cole will likely see more work both inside and on the perimeter.
The Jets made an obvious effort to surround No. 2 overall pick Zach Wilson with a better supporting cast than they did their previous quarterback (Sam Darnold, who will quarterback the Panthers against the Jets on Sunday), but if Crowder has to miss extended time that supporting cast will obviously be depleted until he returns.
New York plays against the division rival New England Patriots in Week 2 and Denver Broncos in Week 3 — meaning they do not face an explosive offense until back-to-back contests against the Tennessee Titans and Atlanta Falcons in Weeks 4 and 5, though they would obviously like to get Crowder back on the field well in advance of those games. He will need to remain symptom-free and return back-to-back negative COVID-19 tests at least 24 hours apart before he can return to the field.
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