NFL

New Jets offense could unlock Quincy Enunwa’s full potential

As the Jets get close to training camp, I am examining the roster and giving you my top 25 players. Each weekday, we will reveal another person on the list, leading right into camp. I am not including rookies on this list because I do not feel it is possible to fully evaluate them before they play a game.

No. 8: Quincy Enunwa

Last year’s ranking: 9

Position: WR

Age on Opening Day: 27

How acquired: Selected in the sixth round of the 2014 Draft

Years left on contract: 4

2019 Salary Cap figure: $2.8 million

Looking back at 2018: Enunwa returned after missing all of the 2017 season with a neck injury. His 2018 started off strong as he became Sam Darnold’s favorite target early in the year.

He had six catches for 63 yards and a touchdown in Week 1 against the Lions, and looked unstoppable at times as he ran through and over the Detroit defense. Enunwa followed that up with seven catches in Week 2 against the Dolphins. It looked as if he was going to have a big season.

But ankle injuries limited Enunwa to 11 games. After catching 21 passes in the first four games, he ended the year with just 38 receptions for 449 yards and did not score another touchdown after the one in Detroit.

He suffered high-ankle sprains on both of his ankles. The injuries cost him two games in the middle of the season and then the final three games.

Pro Football Focus graded Enunwa 58th out of 117 wide receivers it graded.

Enunwa was vocal about his unhappiness with the way former offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates used him. Bates fell in love with using Enunwa in the screen game and rarely let him run deep routes, something Enunwa has proven he can do in his career. His yards per reception dropped to 11.8, down from 14.8 in 2016.

Outlook for 2019: Bates is gone, and new Jets coach Adam Gase is promising to use Enunwa in multiple ways.

The Jets gave Enunwa a four-year, $36 million contract extension last December to keep him from becoming a free agent. Former general manager Mike Maccagnan gave Enunwa that deal, so it will be interesting to see how new GM Joe Douglas and Gase feel about Enunwa.

The presence of Jamison Crowder will allow Enunwa to play outside more and become more of a complete wide receiver.

Staying healthy has become a challenge for Enunwa, whose physical style hurt him last year. Gase has stressed that Enunwa sometimes needs to go down instead of fighting for every inch in order to keep himself healthy. That will go against Enunwa’s instincts, but it will be interesting to see whether he can adjust his style of play and stay on the field more.