The New York Jets have suffered another loss at wide receiver this offseason, though it is not as bad as losing Quincy Enunwa was. Lucky Whitehead will miss a decent amount of time after injuring his foot and is luckily not out for the season. With the team in need of receivers, the Jets have signed journeyman Kenbrell Thompkins.
Whitehead's injury hampers Jets return game
On Monday, Lucky Whitehead was injured during practice only about three weeks after the New York Jets claimed him off of waivers. He suffered a broken left foot. The following former Dallas Cowboy was seen wearing a walking boot and using crutches, with head coach Todd Bowles saying it was still unknown if Whitehead would need surgery.
However, the team got their answer on Wednesday when it was announced that the receiver would have surgery on his broken foot after it was determined that would be the best option. The Jets did dodge a bullet with the injury, as it was originally feared Whitehead would be out for the entire season. He will only miss four to six weeks.
The Jets signed Whitehead as they were in great need of help at receiver and also needed an experienced return man. He was going to compete with Frankie Hammond for the kick and punt returning job. In the Jets first preseason game, he had one kick return for 23 yards and two punt returns for 10 yards.
Thompkins gets another chance in the NFL
With Lucky Whitehead on the mend, the New York Jets added journeyman receiver, Kenbrell Thompkins.
To make room for him, second-year undrafted safety Doung Middleton was waived/injured after he tore his pectoral muscle. For Thompkins, this is his second stint with the Jets after he was basically out of the NFL for most of the last season.
He originally signed with the New England Patriots back in 2013 after being undrafted out of the University of Cincinnati.
Thompkins showed promise his rookie season but fell out of favor and was cut by the team four weeks into the 2014 season. He was then claimed off waivers by the Oakland Raiders and spent the rest of the season with them.
In 2015, he was among the last cuts by the team at the end of preseason. He then signed with the Patriots practice squad but only last a few weeks before being released.
The Jets then added him to their practice squad, promoting him a few weeks later. Thompkins would play in 7 games before getting cut in 2016 as part of final roster cuts and was not in the NFL until he was signed yesterday.