The New Yorks Jets are struggling in the pass game. Injuries have plagued the team's receiving group, leaving quarterback Geno Smith with very little to work with the past few weeks. However, the Jets will be getting a big boost in Week 11 as both Santonio Holmes and Kellen Winslow are set to return against the Buffalo Bills.
Holmes had been out the past five games with a hamstring injury. During that time period, the Jets failed to reach over 200 yards passing in four of those games. According to head coach Rex Ryan, Holmes is expected to be on the field as the team faces the Bills on the road. Barring any setbacks, he will move up as the top receiver for Smith.
Winslow has been out after getting handed a league-mandated suspension for violating the substance abuse policy. He was moved up to the active list and is expected to play some. That will certainly help considering tight end Jeff Cumberland was also out with a concussion.
The key returns should represent an almost completely healthy receiving corps, minus Jeremy Kerley who suffered a dislocated elbow against the New Orleans Saints. The Jets could finally get back to the balanced offensive attack they were hoping to have much of this year. Since Holmes was injured, Smith has only managed about 181 yards per game passing. He will certainly be able to put up some better numbers with more weapons.
Along with Holmes, Stephen Hill and Davis Nelson will round out the wide receivers group. Kerley is expected to be out at least three weeks after his elbow injury. Ryan would not give a timetable on the receiver's return, but simply said the diagnoses was not good and he would not be active for some time.
With several players healthy, the Jets are once again thinking playoffs. Recently, Smith made headlines saying the Jets would in fact be a factor during the postseason. Ryan agreed with his quarterback saying that is the Jets can remain balanced on offense, they would be very dangerous throughout the remainder of the season. However, some players like Winslow are not getting ahead of themselves, staying focused on one game at a time.
"Teams peak at certain times in the season, and we're kind of at the point where you want to make a decision, how good you really want to be," said Winslow, via the New York Post. "We're a real good team defensively and we're a good running team. That's what you want in the playoffs. That's what goes far in the playoffs. We're right there."
