4 players the NY Jets need to bench after the bye week

Few expected the NY Jets to be 3-3 entering their bye week with Zach Wilson at quarterback. In fact, there were plenty of Jets fans who would have signed up for a 3-3 record through six weeks with Aaron Rodgers under center.

Yet, following the team's thrilling 20-14 win over the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 6, the Jets are .500 with the toughest part of their schedule in the rearview mirror.

This Jets team has overachieved due in large part to one of the best defenses in football. But for all the positive takeaways so far this season, there are a few players who are clearly holding the team back.

The Jets have some changes to make during their bye week, and that starts with giving the following four players fewer snaps. Let's take a look at four players the Jets should bench coming out of the bye.

4. C.J. Uzomah, TE, NY Jets

C.J. Uzomah is the only player on this list who genuinely still provides value for the Jets. Uzomah is still an above-average run-blocker who does help the team's running game. That said, there's someone better at that role on the roster.

Jeremy Ruckert has taken on a larger role in his second NFL season, and it's become increasingly apparent that he deserves an even larger share of snaps. Ruckert is the Jets' best run-blocking tight end.

His 67.3 Pro Football Focus run-block grade ranks 13th among 67 qualified tight ends. While Uzomah has had his moments, he's coming off a Week 6 performance in which he posted PFF pass-block and run-block grades of 9.3 and 57.1, respectively.

The most telling stat is that the Jets rank eighth in average EPA with Ruckert on the field and 29th with Uzomah on the field. Uzomah doesn't need to be outright benched, but it's time for Ruckert to take over as the Jets' primary TE2.