Corey Davis went from savior to spared from the chopping block within the span of a fast Jets’ broad receiver overhaul.
Two years in the past, when the Jets had been determined to improve over Breshad Perriman and Jamison Crowder, Davis signed a three-year, $37.5 million free-agent contract to be their unquestioned No. 1 goal.
However continued additions — drafting Garrett Wilson in 2022 and signing Allen Lazard, Randall Cobb and Mecole Hardman this offseason — plus Davis’ non-guaranteed $10.5 million wage left his roster spot in jeopardy.
And but there was Davis catching a move ultimately zone Saturday.
There he was once more on a go-route Sunday as Aaron Rodgers uncorked a deep ball.
“All of that was out of my management,” Davis stated. “It was sort of an extended offseason. There was a degree the place there was uncertainty. Clearly with all of the strikes happening, it’s arduous to not suppose that. It’s nonetheless a enterprise, however I’m completely satisfied to be right here. Completely satisfied they saved me.”
Head coach Robert Saleh’s behind-the-scenes message by means of all of the hypothesis was “to not fear, it’s all going to work out for the higher,” Davis stated.
There’s a college of thought that the 6-foot-3 Davis may not be completely within the clear but as a result of he and the 6-foot-5 Lazard supply overlapping ability units as bodily receivers.
However Davis, who skipped most voluntary OTAs within the spring, isn’t counting on competitors for motivation when he already has loads.
“That fireplace is rarely not going wherever, whether or not I’m the [No.] 1, 2 or 3,” Davis stated. “We’ve bought a number of expertise in that room — a number of dudes who carry totally different stuff to the desk. I’m simply attempting to play my position as greatest I can and lead these younger boys the most effective I can.”
Davis has no less than one new advocate within the Jets’ constructing: Move-game coordinator Todd Downing was the Titans’ tight ends coach in 2020, when Davis set all his profession highs — 65 catches for 984 yards and 5 touchdowns with Tennessee — main into his free company.
“Tremendous Bowl is all the time the purpose and that by no means adjustments irrespective of who’s in right here,” Davis stated. “We’ve bought a terrific likelihood now. We’ve bought a number of expertise. It’s a matter of placing all of it collectively now.”
Like everybody apart from the 2 former Packers, Lazard and Cobb, Davis is attempting to construct belief with Rodgers and reap the benefits of an “superior” alternative by studying his hand-signal audibles on the line of scrimmage and securing passes thrown into tight home windows.
“Allen and Randall have that rapport with Aaron, so we’ve bought to catch up,” Davis stated. “There are a number of totally different alerts and a number of issues he can do. We’re getting there. It’s going to be actually helpful for us as soon as all of us get that down, and we’re capable of play quick.”
Till now, the most effective in-his-prime quarterback that Davis ever performed with was Ryan Tannehill.
With all due respect, taking part in with a four-time MVP is totally different.
“It’s like having one other coach on the market, particularly within the crew assembly rooms,” Davis stated. “Nothing is simply too small for him to educate. Ball safety, our stance, he’s all the time getting us proper. He is ready to dissect it loads faster than most and see issues that others might not see.”
When Davis boxed out cornerback D.J. Reed to catch a side-arm floating two-point conversion move from Rodgers throughout a red-zone interval, offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett ran downfield for a chest-bump celebration.
Davis seemed just like the sort of red-zone menace that the Jets hoped for however haven’t but gotten as he totaled 66 catches for 1,028 yards and 6 touchdowns by means of 22 video games of quarterback dysfunction.
“Credit score to Corey,” Saleh stated, “utilizing his massive physique to protect off D.J. to carry the ball all the way down to catch it.”
Added Davis, “Aaron put it the place solely I can get it, little question.”
And, so, much less doubt than earlier than that Davis has a spot on these Jets.
