NY Jets: Quincy Enunwa guaranteed for 2020, but future still uncertain

NY Jets’ wide receiver Quincy Enunwa’s contract for 2020 became guaranteed on Sunday, but the future of his football career is still in doubt.

It’s been a long and winding road for NY Jets‘ wide receiver Quincy Enunwa. When healthy, Enunwa has proven to be one of the most dynamic playmakers the Jets have seen in quite a while.

But health has been a major issue for Enunwa over the past few years.

The lone survivor of the infamous “Idzik 12,” Enunwa has battled through a career-threatening neck injury that cost him the entirety of the 2017 season and all but one game in 2019.

When on the field, Enunwa has been a very effective piece of the offense carving up defenses as a YAC monster and efficient slot receiver. It’s that very play that allowed him to earn his four-year, $36 million extension back in late December of 2018.

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Unfortunately, he’s played in just one game since signing that contract — and there’s no certainty that he ever steps on to the gridiron again.

That said, Enunwa’s 2020 salary officially became guaranteed on Sunday as per the terms of his contract. There was originally uncertainty surrounding his roster spot with rumors that he could be released in the offseason.

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But in the end, the Jets have evidently decided to keep him. And from a cap perspective, this makes complete sense.

Enunwa would have been entitled $10.1 million in injury guarantees due to a clause in his contract. Releasing him wouldn’t have really saved the Jets anything.

Unfortunately, just because he will be under contract in 2020, doesn’t mean that he will play.

The 27-year-old is yet to be cleared to return to football activities and there have been no recent updates regarding his health status. The Jets would love to see Enunwa return to the fold given their massive hole at receiver.

But it’s clear that the team can’t count on him being healthy at this point.

It’s truly a tragedy to see a promising player like Enunwa suffer through the injuries he has. A former sixth-round pick, Enunwa has overcome quite a bit in his NFL journey to make it to where he is now.

Injuries have derailed his career to this point, but here’s to hoping that Quincy Enunwa could return to full health and put any injury concerns behind him. Neck/spinal injuries can be scary things — especially when they’re persistent.

The Jets would certainly love to have him back and we’ll undoubtedly be wishing the best for the former Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee.