Rex Ryan was joking when he said the Jets might run the Wishbone Monday night in Atlanta against the Falcons, with his team’s options at wide receiver so thin. The state of Gang Green’s receiving corps is no laughing matter, however.
In fact, it’s scary.
The Jets could be without two of their top three receivers, a season-long issue a year ago that limited the passing attack, and the group hasn’t exactly been striking fear into opposing secondaries in the first place this season.
Neither Santonio Holmes (hamstring) nor Stephen Hill (concussion) were present during the portion of practice the media was allowed to attend on Wednesday. A source told The Post Holmes will be out against the Falcons and Hill is unlikely to play as well, though Ryan said “it’s up in the air right now.”
The injuries are reminiscent of last year’s struggles through the air, when Holmes missed all but four games with a Lisfranc foot injury and a sprained right knee cost Hill five games. Hill, the Jets’ lone deep threat, and Holmes have combined for 23 of the unit’s 39 receptions, 476 of its 702 yards, and its only two touchdowns.
“Boy, I hope not. I hope it’s not that way,” Ryan said, referring to last season’s troubles at wide receiver. “But certainly, I’d say it’s a concern when your top guys [are] out.”
If neither can go, the Jets may have to sign another receiver — Tuesday they inked former Bills wideout David Nelson — or activate Michael Campbell from the practice squad, otherwise they will enter the Atlanta game with just four wideouts.
That will leave turnover-prone rookie quarterback Geno Smith with one legitimate option out wide in third-year pro Jeremy Kerley. With Hill knocked out early and Holmes clearly limited against the Titans on Sunday, Smith struggled mightily while throwing two interceptions.
Smith expressed optimism in the team’s healthy receivers, and said it could open up more chances for tight ends Kellen Winslow Jr. and Jeff Cumberland.
“We still have guys who can step up and make plays,” Smith said. “Whoever is in there will be expected to carry their load.”
Clyde Gates, who has had as much trouble getting open as he does holding onto the ball, likely will start alongside Kerley, and Nelson could be elevated into the third spot, ahead of rookie Ryan Spadola, who has yet to catch a pass.
“We’ll see what the new guy can do,” Ryan said, referring to the 6-foot-5 Nelson — who caught 61 passes for 658 yards and five touchdowns in 2011, but appeared in just one game for Buffalo last year after tearing his right ACL in Week 1, ironically against the Jets. The Bills later released him and he was cut by the Browns on Aug. 31. Nelson landed in New Jersey Tuesday night and went over the playbook for 4-5 hours with wide receivers coach Sanjay Lal.
“This is a unique situation where two starters are down and so it’s an opportunity for me to make a mark early,” Nelson said. “I feel like this offense really fits my style of play.”
Additional reporting by Brian Costello