After being ignored in offense, Week 3 might be big for Jeremy Kerley

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. –To say that Jeremy Kerley has been used sparingly this season is an insult to the word sparingly, the New York Jets wide receiver has been persona non grata this year for the team after being a big part of the passing offense the past two years.

Oneyear after being one of the few bright spots on a terrible Jets offense, Kerley and the contract extension he signed last fall are invisible in this much-improved passing attack. Not only has he yet to have a catch this year, he has yet to be targeted as he has clearly fallen down, down, down the depth chart.

Head coach Todd Bowles on Tuesday said that training camp injuries let other players pass Kerley but withfellow wide receiver Eric Decker possibly out this week with a knee injury and Chris Owusu also sidelined, it might just be Kerley who steps into a more prominent role.

Kerley was tied for second on the Jets last year with 38 receptions. He thinks he’s done enough to warrant more playing time.

“I showed the coaches in OTA, I showed the coaches in minicamp, I showed the coaches in camp,” Kerley said on Wednesday.

“I’ve showed the coaches that I can play . I think they know I can play. Unfortunately the guys got hurt. I just have to go out there and do what I do and make plays.”

Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles might be Kerley’s best chance to prove that he belongs in the offense. A solid showing and he might be able to crack into the rotation at wide receiver and start getting meaningful snaps beyond punt return duty.

Last fall under former general manager John Idzik, Kerley signed a four-year, $16 million contract extension.