Can the Jets Keep Everyone Healthy? Mike Williams, Tyron Smith and a Group of Injury Risks

After the addition of Mike Williams, New York has signed multiple players with recent injury history. We look at the impact in both real and fantasy football.

The New York Jets signed former Chargers’ receiver Mike Williams to a one-year deal Tuesday, creating a more formidable pass catching unit than the team had last season. Even outside of the wide receiver room, New York has made a clear effort to upgrade the offense this offseason.

Through signings and trades, the Jets have a better base of talent across most offensive positions. With the No. 10 pick in the draft still to come, they might not be done. Let’s look at what the Jets have done so far, moves they could still make and the fantasy implications of it all.

Upgrading the Offensive Line

Guard John Simpson was signed early in free agency, and former Cowboys left tackle Tyron Smith was added about a week later. New York also made a low-risk trade for right tackle Morgan Moses, giving Baltimore just a sixth-round compensatory pick and a swap of fourth rounders (Baltimore will move up 22 spots).

That’s three starters on the offensive line for little more than the cost of their contracts, which are all reasonable. By ESPN’s measure, the Jets ranked 30th in pass block win rate and 29th in run block win rate last year; they were one of the worst offensive lines in football.

Rodgers’ torn Achilles occurred on the fourth snap of the season, so he didn’t get a chance to experience the poor line play, but it’s reasonable to assign some blame to that unit for his injury. He will likely enjoy better protection than Jets’ QBs did in 2023.

Signing a QB2

New York’s owner was quoted this offseason saying his team didn’t have a backup quarterback last season. It’s an obvious shot at Zach Wilson but also true. Rodgers was the only NFL-level passer on the roster, with Wilson and others struggling mightily.

Tyrod Taylor signed with the team early in the free agency period, filling that hole with competence. Taylor isn’t going to carry a team, but he can step in and lead the offense functionally.

Upgrading the WR2 Spot

Allen Lazard and Xavier Gipson were the only Jets wide receivers other than Garrett Wilson with more than five receptions or 56 yards; Lazard had 23 catches for 311 yards and Gipson 21 for 229.

Part of that was the quarterback play, but the pass catchers on this team were severely lacking. Williams is a legitimate second receiver who can moonlight as a top option if needed. He has scored 31 touchdowns and averaged 15.6 yards per catch in his career.

Williams brings very good but not elite level play to the offense. He is best suited as the team’s second receiver with Wilson breaking out as a true star in the team’s ideal world.

Picking 10th Overall

This draft is seen as being loaded with offensive talent at the top. That includes wide receivers Malik Nabers and Rome Odunze in New York’s draft range, both guys who would be top-10 prospects essentially every year.

Mel Kiper’s mock draft released Tuesday projected Georgia tight end Brock Bowers to the Jets at No. 10. Bowers is ranked as a top-10 player in the draft by most analysts but could slide because teams don’t value his position. He is often compared to George Kittle, for reference of his upside.

Tight end is the offensive position the team hasn’t upgraded yet, so it makes sense to connect the two. Tyler Conklin was third on the team in 2023 with 61 receptions and second with 621 yards. Despite his ranking amongst his teammates, Conklin is an underwhelming top option.

Drafting Bowers and pushing Conklin the second tight end slot would make the Jets a better team.

Injury Concerns

This is where things could all fall apart. On top of Rodgers’ issues, two of their biggest acquisitions have missed time in recent seasons. Williams played just three games last year before suffering a major knee injury and has been afflicted by multiple maladies throughout his career.

Smith has been an All-Pro left tackle when on the field, but he has played just 30 of a possible 67 games since 2020. Moses has been incredibly durable in his career; he’s also 33 years old. 

Guard Alijah Vera-Tucker has played just 12 games over the last two seasons, and Simpson has alternated full seasons and missed time over the last four years. Running back Breece Hall suffered a major knee injury after playing just seven games in his rookie season.

This is a laundry list of injury history. Expecting all of these players to stay healthy is a fool’s bet, and having reliable depth will be key to the team overcoming injury issues.

Fantasy Implications

A good offensive line helps everyone. If they stay mostly intact, New York’s front could be one of the best in the league. Other than the three imports, former first rounder Vera-Tucker and 2023 second-round pick Joe Tippmann currently make up the top five, with potentially above-average play at every position.

Last year, Hall had 994 rushing yards and led all backs in receptions and receiving yards, topping even Christian McCaffrey. With more competent players around him, he could be one of the top fantasy backs in 2024, especially with more chances to score on a better offense.

Rodgers, Garrett Wilson and Williams will all benefit from each other. Rodgers even approximating his old form could make this a great offense. All these players at their best would make up an all-star team.

Wilson is a blossoming star entering his third season with 178 receptions for 2,145 yards and seven touchdowns under his belt. His expectation should be a breakout if Rodgers plays well.

Is a Healthy Season Realistic?

The likelihood of everyone in top form together for most of the season is a longshot. Injury history and age are against them at most offensive positions. Many players get hurt, but some guys miss games on a regular basis while others have rare occurrences.

The group the Jets have assembled seems ready to implode. Injuries are likely to cost multiple players time; New York’s chances hinge on limiting the number of games missed.

There are just too many things that need to go right for me to trust this team. It starts with the 40-year-old quarterback coming off an Achilles tear and extends to his offensive line and skill players. That's a lot of uncertainty.

Conclusion

The Jets have assembled a collection of offensive talent that could challenge for best in the league if every player was up to his best standard. Time has taken its toll, though, and injuries have piled up in recent years.

Garrett Wilson and Hall have top-five fantasy potential at their positions, and a healthy Rodgers could elevate the roster if he can return to something close to his old form. Williams must be expected to miss a few games (or at least parts of games) dealing with injuries.

This healthy Jets team could be a fun one for New Yorkers, but history says it will be more frustration than celebration. Gang Green is all in on the 2024 season with veterans nearing the end of their careers; if it doesn’t all come together, there will be a lot of new faces next year.

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