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With Quincy Enunwa absent and Terrelle Pryor uncertain, the Jets need forwards on Sunday.
Their group of tight ends may be ready to intervene.
No one in the position will impress their opponents with their names or stats, but Chris Herndon, Neal Sterling, Eric Tomlinson and Jordan Leggett have served the Jets well in Sunday's battle 7 against the Vikings.
"I feel we are a very unique group," said Herndon, a rookie Friday after training. "We are four to play and we each bring our own accord to the table. We all have our advantages. I think we're doing a good job of blending the coaching efforts and putting ourselves in the right position. We simply support each other, making sure we all know what we need to do and watching over each other.
After the Jets decided not to sign veteran Austin Seferian-Jenkins, the tight-end group had many questions to ask themselves before the season. This was one of the most competitive battles of the training camp. Clive Walford, the most experienced member of the pack, proved to be a strange player since the Jets kept four in total. They started the season with little experience, combining only 26 shots and a touchdown.
Together, they had 21 receptions for 226 yards and two touchdowns. It's comparable to what Vikings tight winger Kyle Rudolph did on his own: 27 catches for 266 yards and two touchdowns.
"They bring all different things to the table," coach Todd Bowles said. "It's more of a lunch bucket group, but they all have a lot of talent. A different intensifies each match. So you do not know what it is because they are all solid in what they do. You just like the group as a whole improves and you see who is the hero of this game. "
The Vikings were vulnerable against tight ends, with 34 assists (on 45 targets) for 467 yards and two touchdowns. The catches are the sixth most-favored for the NFL position, and as Sam Darnold is likely to miss two of his best reception options on Sunday, the tight ends of the Jets could be more complicated.
As a unit, the group ranks 25th in the receptions standings with tight ends and 22nd at receptions with tight goals from the NFL. But they offer versatility to offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates, with the possibility of duplication as side or wide receivers, and they also contributed to the blockage. The four tight ends also contribute to special teams.
Herndon played most of them, taking 57.6% of the Jets' offensive shots as he established a connection with Darnold.
"We just know every week, you never know when the tight end number will be called," said Herndon. "We're just trying to do what we can to make sure we play that game, that it blocks, catches, even for special teams. We are very proud of it. "
Bowles saw the game slow down for Herndon while praising him for his "exceptional" study habits. The Miami Jets' fourth-round pick in 2018 led the group with seven receptions for 103 yards and was finally rewarded with his first career touchdown.
"It was a moment of relief, but I'm not happy with that," said Herndon. "I want to continue to improve every week and hope to see more."
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