NY Jets: 3 biggest duds of 2020 training camp so far

These three NY Jets players have failed to live up to expectations thus far in training camp.

The NY Jets entered training camp with a number of question marks that needed to be answered. From position battles to acquainting themselves with their offseason additions, there were plenty of storylines for the Jets to keep an eye on.

That’s especially true given the unorthodox nature of this offseason. There was no minicamp or OTAs and the team won’t be given the benefit of having four preseason games to evaluate their talent.

That entire evaluation process will have to come in training camp — and an abbreviated training camp at that.

For that reason, players’ performances in camp mean more than perhaps any other year. This will be every player’s only shot to make an impression on the team prior to the start of the regular season.

Some of those players are fighting for their roster spots while others are attempting to secure a starting job. Either way, training camp represents their opportunity to shine.

Unfortunately, not every player has lived up to expectations.

Be it because of their own underwhelming performances or simply a product of circumstance, the Jets have to be disappointed with the showings from a few players on their roster.

Let’s take a look at the Jets’ biggest duds through training camp so far.

Next: 3. Chuma Edoga

3. Chuma Edoga, OT, NY Jets

The Jets drafted Chuma Edoga in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft with the expectation that he could become a long-term starter along the offensive line.

Considered a developmental project by many, Edoga was thrust into action early in the year to replace Brandon Shell at right tackle on a struggling Jets’ offensive line.

The results weren’t pretty.

His poor performance left many wondering if the Jets would look to replace him in the offseason. And while they didn’t outright replace him, the signing of former Seattle Seahawks swing tackle, George Fant, provided competition for him.

Going into training camp, the competition for the starting right tackle job was expected to be one of the more heated roster battles this summer. But in actuality, this “competition” has been anything but.

The Jets didn’t sign Fant to be a backup, and they’ve made that very clear through the first couple of weeks of training camp. The 28-year-old has worked exclusively with the first-team offense leaving Edoga to fend for himself with the backups.

This isn’t necessarily a fault of Edoga’s, but it’s clear that he hasn’t done enough to convince the coaching staff that he’s worth a second look.

Instead, he’ll likely enter the 2020 season as the team’s top backup offensive tackle. Perhaps that was always the most likely outcome.

But most at least expected him to put up a fight.

Next: 2. Le'Veon Bell

2. Le’Veon Bell, RB, NY Jets

Le’Veon Bell had what was likely the most challenging season of his football career last year. In his first season with the Jets, Bell rushed for an abysmal 3.2 yards per carry behind one of the NFL’s worst offensive lines.

Coupled with a subpar coaching staff and Bell’s statistical output absolutely plummeted from his Pittsburgh Steelers days.

However, Bell promised that things would be different going into 2020. He promised that we would see a “new Le’Veon Bell.” Unfortunately, his performance thus far in training camp hasn’t exactly backed that up.

Bell hasn’t necessarily been bad, per se. He’s just been — there.

What makes matters worse is that 37-year-old Frank Gore has been outperforming Bell thus far. As Connor Hughes of The Athletic puts it, “Frank Gore is the most productive back at Jets training camp.”

Hughes chalked it up to Bell’s patience actually serving as a hindrance — something we saw a lot of last year. Whereas Gore just takes the handoff and plows forward, Bell opts for a more careful and precise strategy.

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But the waiting game doesn’t work behind a Jets offensive line that’s still finding its footing.

Combine that with the debacle during Wednesday’s scrimmage where he and head coach Adam Gase disagreed about why exactly he was removed from practice, and it’s safe to say that this wasn’t the training camp that Bell had envisioned.

There’s still time to turn things around, but it hasn’t exactly been smooth sailing for the former All-Pro running back.

Next: 1. Denzel Mims

1. Denzel Mims, WR, NY Jets

The Jets had high expectations for Denzel Mims when they drafted him 59th overall this past draft. Unfortunately, it’s hard to see him meeting those expectations anytime soon.

Just prior to the start of actual on-field practices, Mims tweaked his hamstring. The result has been a Mims-less training camp thus far with the rookie second-round pick remaining sidelined with his injury.

And with the regular season quickly approaching, it’s probably time to have a serious conversation about the effect this absence could and likely will have on his rookie campaign.

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Mims was already seen as a developmental project coming out of college. And with the absence of other offseason programs, training camp was going to be a crucial development period for the former Baylor star.

Instead, he’s been forced to watch from the sidelines.

Now, of course, this isn’t his fault in any way. Labeling Mims a “dud” doesn’t necessarily mean that his performance has been subpar. He hasn’t had a performance, to begin with.

However, it’s hard to argue that the Jets were hoping for much more promising results from Mims coming out of training camp.

At this point, it’s likely that Mims doesn’t get involved on offense in any significant way for at least the first portion of the season — even if he is fully healthy.

With just two weeks until Week 1, time is most definitely running out.