On paper, Monday night’s contest looks to be a mismatch — the hobbled and depleted Jets against the undefeated Texans, the team considered by many the NFL’s best a quarter of the way through the season.
Jeremy Kerley, however, sees it as an opportunity, especially for the second-year pro and his fellow no-name wide receivers.
“Hopefully by the end of the day,” Kerley said, “the world will know who we are.”
With No. 1 receiver Santonio Holmes lost for the season with a Lisfranc injury, and tight end Dustin Keller (hamstring) and rookie Stephen Hill (hamstring) likely out of action, the Jets will be relying on Kerley and a series of other unproven players, ranging from tight end Jeff Cumberland, who actually leads the active Jets in receptions with 11, to journeymen receivers Clyde Gates, Chaz Schilenz and newly acquired Jason Hill.
The names won’t exactly strike fear into opposing defenses. Plus, the Mark Sanchez-led passing attack was hardly prolific in the four games with Holmes in the lineup. With all the injuries the team is dealing with, many feel the aerial attack will be grounded until Keller and Hill return.
Kerley has seen steady improvement and thinks the leftover pieces may surprise some people.
“I think we’ll come out firing on all cylinders,” said Kerley, who has hauled in 10 catches for 197 yards and two touchdowns. “I feel like our passing game can be productive.”
Kerley, a fifth-round selection out of TCU who caught 29 passes for 314 yards as a rookie, said he doesn’t consider himself the new No. 1 receiver even though the rash of injuries leaves him as the most experienced. He figures Sanchez will spread the ball around.
The undersized but speedy receiver does expect his role to expand and said he will likely be used out wide at times instead of solely in the slot.
“I’m definitely excited,” he said. “I consider myself a playmaker. It’s more opportunities for me to get the ball in my hands.”
The rag-tag group will need to be productive if the offense is going to snap out of a funk that has seen it score just a single touchdown in its last 34 possessions. The running game has struggled mightily and Houston is first in total defense, allowing just 273 yards per game.
While Jason Hill is the only newcomer in the group, Sanchez said he has spent extra time with his new receiving corps, working on basics and gaining familiarity with each another.
The quarterback has liked what he has seen.
“We’ve set a high standard for these guys and they’ll meet it,” he said.