If it is up to him, Austin Seferian-Jenkins will wear green for many years to come. A free agent-to-be, the 25-year-old tight end hopes to continue his career with the Jets for a long time.
“They gave me a great opportunity, let me showcase my abilities, and I’ll always be indebted to them for that, and I want to be here,” he told The Post on Friday. “I love the fans here, I love the coaches, and I love the ownership. I love the management.”
Until a recent downturn in production, the 6-foot-6 Seferian-Jenkins was having a career year, already posting personal bests in receptions (44) and targets (63). His 323 yards receiving are 15 yards short of his career-best mark, set in 2015 with the Buccaneers, and his three touchdown catches are one shy of the four he caught in 2015. But over the past three games, he has just five catches for 28 yards, which coach Todd Bowles attributed to opponents looking to take away Seferian-Jenkins, and wide receivers Robby Anderson and Jermaine Kearse getting more opportunities.
Seferian-Jenkins, who joined the Jets late last season after he was cut by the Bucs following his second DUI, has done his best to show his value in other ways, like with his blocking.
“I think the coaches, the owners, management, the fans see the potential I can bring if things keep progressing, what I can be,” said Seferian-Jenkins, who quit drinking, began attending rehab and lost 25 pounds in a transformative offseason. “I’m only 25. I have a lot of good football to play. I’m starting to play my best football.
“I think I’ve proven to the NFL, to the league, that I’m a young tight end, a promising a tight end, that’s really coming into his own.”
Running back Matt Forte (knee) and right guard Brian Winters (ankle/abdomen) are both questionable. Bowles is “hopeful” they will play against the Saints, even though Forte didn’t practice all week. Winters was limited Friday. Safety Rontez Miles (hamstring), running back Elijah McGuire (ankle), cornerback Morris Claiborne (foot), linebacker Bruce Carter (groin), long snapper Tom Hennessy (concussion) and defensive lineman Steve McLendon (hip) practiced fully for the first time on Friday, and will play on Sunday.
It is unlikely the Jets will activate wide receiver Jeremy Kerley on Sunday, according to Bowles. Kerley is coming off a four-game suspension for using performance-enhancing drugs. He has been able to practice since the suspension ended on Monday because the team has a roster exemption, but it expires at 4 p.m. Monday, at which point the Jets have to activate or cut Kerley.