Chad Hansen didn't make a lot of noise during the first few weeks of training camp. Maybe that's because he's a rookie and it takes time to adjust. Or maybe the New York Jets didn't evaluate him as accurately as their fans may have hoped. Either way, his time was coming. On Tuesday, he finally made a play that showcased why the Jets spent a fourth-round draft pick on the former All-Pac 12 wide receiver out of Cal.
Hansen shows up
ESPN's Rich Cimini noted one of the plays of the day. Hansen ran a deep in-cut, making an impressive catch while moving and then darting up the field for a 30-yard touchdown.
The most surprising part of the play, however, is that the pass didn't come from quarterback competition leaders Josh McCown or Christian Hackenberg. Instead, it came from Bryce Petty, who has clearly been relegated to third-string duty by the Jets.
Hansen spent all day looking good in training camp. He made some plays that involved using tip-toe abilities to keep his feet in-bounds. He showed some major hops in reeling in a pass from McCown. He dropped at least one pass as well, but overall, it seemed like a strong day for the rookie. The fact that he's developing a strong relationship on the field with Petty could be a double-edged sword; on the plus side, it means he can catch balls from any of the Jets quarterbacks.
He probably doesn't want to end up linked with the third-stringer, though.
Hansen's role on the Jets
The Jets are mighty thin at wide receiver, so Hansen could play a major role during his rookie season. The team lost their two best receivers in the offseason, when Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker were shown the door. Then, Quincy Enunwa suffered a season-ending neck injury.
The hits somehow continue to come, as just Tuesday, Lucky Whitehead suffered an injury that could leave him out for a long time.
That leaves few options for the Jets. Robby Anderson, Jalin Marshall, (who is suspended for the first four games of the season), and Charone Peake are next up. None of the active receivers on the roster have any significant NFL experience to speak of.
After those three, rookies ArDarius Stewart and Hansen - once believed to be heading towards a redshirt year - become the top remaining receivers for the team. Meanwhile, troubled Austin Seferian-Jenkins will be the team's primary tight end. It's going to be a long season in New York for the team's primary pass catchers - or what's left of them.
