The Jets claimed former Ravens wide receiver Jeremy Butler Tuesday, a sign that Eric Decker isn't close to returning _ if at all this season.
Decker has been sidelined since he partially tore the rotator cuff in his right shoulder against the Chiefs on Sept. 25. Decker said last week that surgery has "been in discussion" but his primary focus was getting the strength and range of motion back. His hope is to play again in 2016, but he couldn't offer a definitive timetable for his return. Neither could his coach.
"We have to see how his progress is doing," Todd Bowles said last week, when asked about the possibility of putting Decker on injured reserve. "It's about him getting better first and seeing what he can and can't do before you make that decision. If he's worse every day, then that's an easy decision. But that's not the case right now. So we'll just play it week by week, but we have something in mind, we all talk about it and we'll deal with it if that time comes."
The 6-2, 213-pound Butler caught 31 passes for 363 yards in eight games last year in Baltimore, but was one of the Ravens' final roster cuts in this preseason. After spending time on Tampa Bay's practice squad, he was promoted to the active roster last week. But he was waived Sunday before the Bucs-Panthers game Monday night.
In a corresponding move, the Jets released wide receiver Jeremy Ross. His departure could signal the return of injured rookie receiver/return man Jalin Marshall, who suffered a torn labrum in his left shoulder during the Chiefs game.
Ross was released by the Jets in the preseason but was signed Sept. 29 to aid in the return game. In two games, he returned two kicks for 52 yards.
Like Decker, Marshall has missed the past two games. He has been limited in practice.
"He's getting better every day," Bowles said last week.
