Rex Ryan says he doesn't see how rookie RB Joe McKnight will make the team's active roster.
Jets coach Rex Ryan is losing patience with RB Joe McKnight, saying the rookie is unlikely to see any time on the playing field this regular season as things stand now.
“We drafted him in the (fourth) round; he’s going to make the team,’’ Ryan said, according to the Newark Star-Ledger. “But I just don’t – we’re not going to play him until we have more confidence in him. Until he shows, in practice, that he gets the message.’’
McKnight has been a dud so far this preseason, rushing for 69 yards on 29 carries and losing 3 fumbles in 3 games. In the Jets’ 21-17 win over Philadelphia on Thursday night, McKnight had a fumble returned 64-yards for a TD by Eagles S Kurt Coleman.
“Joe McKnight’s got to hold on to the football,’’ Ryan said after the game.“That was disappointing. Here’s a guy that’s on the bubble of making the active roster and I don’t have confidence in him. I don’t see how he can make the active roster. That’s how I feel about it.’’
The Jets were also keen on McKnight for his special teams abilities, but he has struggled to get anything going there too. Last night he returned one punt for no gain and let two punts go over his head that were downed by the Eagles inside the Jets’ 5-yard line.
“I’ve just got to earn their trust back,’’ McKnight said quietly afterward. “(I’ve got to) keep going back out to practice and keep working hard on the little things. Let them see that I’m really dependable, and just keep the ball high and tight and do all the little things.’’
The Jets traded up to draft the USC standout in the 4th round earlier this year, but his tenure with the team has been marred in disappointment since Day One when McKnight reportedly showed up to preseason out of shape and vomited during the team’s rookie minicamp.
The Jets open their season on Sept. 13 with a Monday night showdown against the Baltimore Ravens, Ryan’s former team.