MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — There were not many positive moments for the Jets’ offense last week against the Bears, but they believe they have found something with undrafted wide receiver Deontay Burnett.
Burnett made some big catches late in the game, including a 29-yarder in which he showed great concentration. That catch set up the Jets’ only touchdown. He finished the game with four catches for 61 yards in his second game on the active roster.
“He came in there, acted like he belonged, just felt like one of the guys,” offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates said. “He’s long, he’s fast, and he can go up and really high-point the ball. There’s not a lot of receivers that can go up and take that away from the DB. That could have been a pick. He comes to work every single day. He studies. He’s a true pro for a young kid, and I think he’s only going to get better. The sky’s the limit.”
Burnett went undrafted out of USC last year. The Titans signed him in May but cut him after training camp. He has spent most of the past two months on the Jets’ practice squad, but they activated him two weeks ago when the injuries piled up at wide receiver. Now, he has been reunited with Sam Darnold, his college quarterback, and he has impressed the coaching staff.
Burnett said he did not worry about going undrafted. He just waited for his chance. Now, he has it.
“It’s something that’s not in my control,” Burnett said. “I just have tried to do the best that I can when I can, when opportunity presents itself. For me, the whole process has just been staying level-headed and being ready.”
The Jets picked up kicker Jason Myers off the scrap heap in late August, claiming him off waivers from the Seahawks. That move has paid off in a big way. Myers is 18-for-19 on field goal tries and has 36 touchbacks on kickoffs, the second-most in the NFL.
“I don’t think you can say enough good things about him,” special teams coordinator Brant Boyer said. “I think he has done a heck of a job in facing pretty bad conditions in the last couple of weeks and he’s kicked right through them. Those are some as bad of winds as I’ve seen, as a matter of fact, since I’ve been coaching. They were 25-35 mph winds downs there in the last two weeks, and he’s done a heck of a job kicking them. Still kicking touchbacks and his field goals are still going through and doing a heck of a job. I don’t think you can say enough good things about him.”
