A neck injury sidelined Jets wide receiver Quincy Enunwa for the entire 2017 season, but it’s an issue that he’s been dealing with for years, as Manish Mehta of the Daily News writes. Enunwa says the pain dates all the way back to 2015 when the Jets beat the Titans in Week 14.
Interestingly, the 26-year-old says that he has not done any post-surgical rehab over the last eight months.
“I had the surgery. I had a brace for a little bit. I didn’t have the brace for long,” Enunwa said. “I had to sleep a certain way for a few days. After that, it was nothing. I wasn’t allowed to run (in the beginning). Otherwise, there was no rehab. Everything I did was for my legs, so when I got back I could run.”
This year, Enunwa says that his goal is to be a “difference maker” for Gang Green. A big year could also make a difference in his wallet. Enunwa is slated to earn $2.91MM on his restricted free agent deal and will be eligible for unrestricted free agency in 2019.
Here’s more from the AFC East:
- Patriots guard Shaq Mason could be one year away from becoming one of the league’s highest-paid guards, Jeff Howe of The Athletic writes. Mason probaly won’t approach Andrew Norwell‘s five-year, $66.5MM deal ($30MM guaranteed), but Howe estimates that he should see no less than $9MM/year with about 40% of his deal fully guaranteed. Right now, there are eleven guards who make at least $9MM per season, so it’s fair to assume that Mason – who will turn 26 just before the ’19 season – will hit that mark if he performs in 2018. Last year, Mason graded out as Pro Football Focus’ No. 10 ranked guard in the NFL.
- With seven running backs on the Patriots‘ roster, something has to give. Doug Kyed of NESN can envision a scenario in which Mike Gillislee is cut in favor of former Bengal Jeremy Hill. First-round pick Sony Michel is obviously safe and the same goes for pass-catching specialist James White. After that, Hill, Gillislee, Rex Burkhead, and Brandon Bolden are competing for no more than three spots. Burkhead had a productive first year with the Pats and Bolden has been tremendous on special teams, so Hill and Gillislee are probably squaring off for one final place on the roster. The seventh running back under contract, undrafted free agent Ralph Webb, seems unlikely to make the cut.
- On Thursday, the Bills reached an injury settlement with retired center Eric Wood.
- The Dolphins were one of five teams to utilize the post-June 1 release designation this year.