If Geno Smith struggles at quarterback for the Jets again this week, it won’t be for a lack of weapons.
Smith appears likely to have Santonio Holmes and Jeremy Kerley on the field Sunday for the first time since Week 4 when Gang Green hosts the Raiders. Kerley practiced again Friday and pronounced himself ready to go after missing a month with a dislocated left elbow.
Smith hasn’t thrown a touchdown pass in five games, but will have his best chance to end that drought this week with the speedy and dangerous tandem of Holmes and Kerley at his disposal.
Holmes has battled hamstring issues but is listed as probable, while Kerley said his elbow “feels good enough to play” and is also probable.
That should be good news for Smith and frustrated Jets fans, considering Kerley can be a matchup nightmare out of the slot with his quickness, and is one of the NFL’s most productive third-down receivers.
“When we’re all firing and all out there doing our thing, it’s a beautiful thing,” he said. “Hopefully, we can get back to that early this week.”
Kerley, the Jets’ leading receiver with 26 catches despite dislocating his elbow Nov. 3 against the Saints, said he initially feared the injury was season-ending because it was “the worst pain I’ve ever felt.”
But Kerley, perhaps foolishly, plans to throw caution to the wind and won’t wear any protective padding on his elbow during games.
“I don’t want to feel restricted,” Kerley said. “I tell people all the time, if I could, I would play naked. I don’t like pads.”
Just hours after coach Rex Ryan crowed about the Jets not having anyone out, doubtful or even questionable on the official injury report, the team downgraded wide receiver Stephen Hill to questionable with a knee injury.
Even with Hill’s injury, Ryan said the Jets are “as healthy as we’ve been in a month.”
The Jets are in better shape than the Raiders, who officially declared running back Darren McFadden (ankle) and six other players out for Sunday.
Also sidelined for Oakland will be safety Tyvon Branch (ankle), guard Mike Brisiel (ankle and knee), linebacker Kaluka Maiava (ribs and calf), wide receiver Denarius Moore (shoulder), running back Jeremy Stewart (ankle and knee) and safety Usama Young (neck).
Ryan said he is confident the Jets will bounce back Sunday because humiliation — in the form of last week’s 23-3 home loss to the Dolphins — is a great motivator.
“The fact that we got beat the way we did in front of our own fans, that was bad,” Ryan said Friday. “It was brutal. So we’re ready to put on a good performance not just for ourselves but for our fans. We look at it as our responsibility.”
Raiders quarterback Matt McGloin will have quite the personal cheering section Sunday at MetLife Stadium.
As of Thursday night, two busloads of friends and family from McGloin’s hometown of Scranton, Pa., had committed to making the trip to the Meadowlands to see the Penn State product make his fourth NFL start.
McGloin told reporters in Oakland that more than just the two busloads could end up making the trip.