Wide receiver Malachi Corley is in a difficult situation.
The Jets’ 2024 third-round pick wants a bigger role on game day, but the rookie plays a position the Jets already have several options for, including Garrett Wilson, Davante Adams and Allen Lazard.
Corley understands his situation, but it doesn’t make it any easier to navigate. Especially when you feel like you’re being left in the dark about what exactly the Jets want to improve.
Prior to Thursday’s practice, passing game coordinator Todd Downing said Kohli “has definitely gone into the season wanting more opportunities” and believes the 22-year-old is “learning how to handle them in a better, more mature way.”
“Our priority is to win games, not ratings,” Downing said. “So we’re going to do what we think will put us in the best position to compete and win the game.
“Malachi has a bright future in this league and has the skills to eventually help the team win football games. Now he’s fighting to get scraps from Davante, G, Allen and others. So I think he’s learning how to be a professional.”
In eight games, Corley has three catches for 16 yards and two rushes for 26 yards.
He should have had a 20-yard touchdown run against the Texans in early November if he hadn’t dropped the ball early before getting into the end zone, one of the many low points of a forgettable Jets season.
Corley said he has “a lot to learn” this season and is trying to get the most out of his reps in practice and on the scout team.
He said he would be ready the next time his name was called.
“You really have to focus on your work every day and come to work as if you were the starter, as if you were the man. Because at any given moment, you can go from playing no snaps to playing 50 plays in a single game,” Corley said. “So just being prepared and mentally present every day, taking mental reps, paying attention to what I’m doing, and not just coming to work like me, mad, whatever, really attacking the day. If I really am a man and this is my chance to really show people who I am.”
Corley said there hasn’t been much conversation about what it will take for him to join next season.
“I really don’t know,” he said.
Meanwhile, he plans to focus on becoming a more complete route runner and improving his skills this offseason.
“I hope they will give me a bigger role next year,” he said.
The availability of Adams and cornerback Sauce Gardner for Sunday’s game in Buffalo is still unknown.
According to the team injury report, Adams (hip) and Gardner (hamstring) did not participate in practice for the second straight day.
Adams’ hip issue was even more surprising while Gardner left Sunday’s game with a hamstring injury.
It is unclear whether he will be available for this weekend’s game.
Meanwhile, quarterback Aaron Rodgers was listed as a full participant in practice despite a knee injury.
Morgan Moses (knee) and Aaliyah Vera-Tucker (ankle) also did not participate in Thursday’s practice, along with Tony Adams (ankle), Michael Carter Jr. (back), Brayden McGregor (ankle), Hasson Reddick (neck) and John Simpson. also did not participate. (calf) and Quinnen Williams (hamstring) are actually limited.
With Olu Fashanu, an injured reserve suffering from plantar fasciitis in his left foot, at left tackle, the fight for his starting spot is on.
Max Mitchell emerges as the clear frontrunner after replacing Fashanu when the 2024 first-rounder was injured in Sunday’s home game against the Rams.
According to Pro Football Focus, Mitchell played 97 snaps in eight games, most of them at right guard.
But Downing said on Thursday that nothing had been decided yet and that Carter Warren was another possibility.
“As for options for this week and next week, the battle for competition will begin here within a few hours,” Downing said. “Both Max and Carter have done a great job capitalizing on the opportunities they have had when called upon at short notice and we look forward to seeing which of them gets the best out of them.”
Warren has played 51 snaps in four games this season, second-most in the NFL.
