New York Jets Santonio Holmes expected to start camp on PUP
New York Jets wide receiver Santonio Holmeshas not participated in any offseason activities to this point, as his foot has been extremely slow to heal since injuring it last year in late September. Holmes needed Lisfranc surgery, which is tricky to begin with. Compound that with the fact that Holmes has the most severe Lisfranc at a Grade 4 injury, and you have a precarious situation for a high-priced, under-performing, 29-year-old receiver to begin with.
New York Jets wide receiver Santonio Holmes (10) during a game against the Miami Dolphins at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
ESPN New York’s Rich Cimini writes that Santonio Holmes is expected to start training camp on the active PUP list, and that has to be the most likely scenario with Holmes having missed OTAs and minicamp. The Jets need Holmes to be as healthy as possible coming into the regular season, but that’s going to be tough as his foot has made almost no progress. With Stephen Hill continuing to drop passes and very slow to develop (is there a more raw receiver in this league?), the Jets desperately need Holmes to be the playmaking receiver he was supposed to be. It’s time for him to earn his pay and prove to the Jets that he doesn’t deserve to be a cap casualty next offseason, but it won’t be easy.
Normally a player that underperforms as often as Santonio Holmes and runs their mouth as often as Holmes doesn’t hold much importance to a team, but Holmes is one of the most important players on the Jets offense due to the lack of pass-catching options surrounding Geno Smith (or Mark Sanchez, if the Jets are unwise enough not to see what they have in their rookie QB or if Smith ends up flopping). Holmes is still a quality receiver with excellent physical tools (ideally, you’d like to have him as the No. 2 option), and that’s the kind of player the Jets need to have healthy.
Right now, the only legitimate, healthy WR on the roster is Jeremy Kerley.