The Jets have a new wide receiver, and he comes from the unlikeliest of places.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Jets traded a 2021 sixth-round pick to the Patriots for Demaryius Thomas, who became expendable in New England’s loaded receiving corps after the signing of Antonio Brown.
Thomas, who is less than nine months removed from tearing his Achilles last December, reunites with Adam Gase, who was Thomas’ first coach in the NFL. Gase coached the Broncos’ wide receivers from 2009-12 and the Broncos drafted Thomas in the first round of 2010 draft. During their five years together, Thomas caught 456 passes for 5,317 yards and 41 touchdowns, including three consecutive Pro Bowls from 2012-14.
Despite coming off a devastating injury and his worst season since 2011, Thomas immediately becomes the most experienced receiver on the Jets roster. Thomas’ 688 career receptions are 176 more than the top three Jets wideouts combined, and he has 9,330 career receiving yards with 62 touchdowns.
Thomas looked fantastic in his first NFL game since returning from injury. In the Patriots’ final preseason match of the summer, the 6-foot-3, 225-pound Thomas recorded seven catches for 87 yards and two touchdowns. However, he was inactive Week 1 and now that Pats have Brown in the mix.
Thomas isn’t in his prime anymore, but his veteran presence and big-play potential gives the Jets receiving depth some firepower for the rest of the 2019 season.
In other wideout news, Gang Green also worked out former Titan and Bear Kendall Wright, according to ESPN’s Field Yates. This, as well as the Thomas trade, follows Adam Gase’s Monday teleconference in which he noted Robby Anderson’s lack of execution in New York’s Week 1 loss without naming him.
