After not reporting to OTAs last week, New York Jets wide receivers Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker are back in action.
The New York Jets were without their top two offensive targets last week when OTAs opened, but they are both now back in action. Seemingly in protest of the team still yet to re-sign quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, wide receivers Erick Decker and Brandon Marshall did not report to practice last week.
Fitzpatrick still remains unsigned, but both receivers showed up for work “at the team’s Florham Park facility Tuesday morning for meetings,” according to Kimberly Martin of Newsday.
Marshall and Decker formed arguably the best duo at the wide receiver position in the NFL last season. Marshall was particularly incredible, finishing 2015 with 109 receptions for 1,502 yards and a league-leading 14 touchdowns. Decker’s production was nothing to sleep on, as he brought in 80 receptions for 1,027 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Two big and athletic targets on the outside, both Marshall and Decker were incredible last season. That being said, they are not going to come close to those numbers (nor their 10-6 record), unless the Jets get Fitzpatrick back in the fold.
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With all due respect to Geno Smith, Christian Hackenberg and Bryce Petty, I think we all know that this Jets’ team is going to be in trouble with any sort of combination of those three under center. It is undoubtedly Fitzpatrick or bust for the Jets at the quarterback position.
Fitzpatrick is a journeyman quarterback who has never really been anything more than a solid game manager in the past. However, he really thrived in Chan Gailey’s system last season, throwing for 3,905 yards and 31 touchdowns.
Getting Marshall and Decker back in the fold is great, but the Jets are extremely unlikely to be going anywhere unless they can get back Fitzpatrick. Is his top two targets getting back in to the mix a sign of Fitzpatrick coming back soon? Stay tuned to find out.
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