The opportunity was there, and Irv Charles seized it.
Establishing himself as the New York Jets’ primary special teams gunner, Charles filled a role that used to belong to Pro Bowl selection Justin Hardee and there didn’t seem to be any drop-off.
“In a very tough, challenging year in a lot of ways, an absolute bright spot for this team. A guy that has emerged,” said interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich on Wednesday in Florham Park. “I really believe had he finished the season playing the way he is playing, he would have been a shoe in for Pro Bowl as far as the special team players are concerned.”
As it turns out, however, Charles’s breakout season is ending prematurely. The core special teamer, who has seen minimal snaps as a wide receiver, suffered an ACL injury while covering a punt early in the fourth quarter against the Miami Dolphins on December 8.
“Not good,” said Ulbrich while providing injury updates. “He will be put on IR here shortly, unfortunately.”
After officially placing Charles onto Injured Reserve, the Jets filled the 53-man roster spot by signing defensive back Jaylin Simpson off the Colts’ practice squad. Charles was on the field for 214 special teams snaps in his second season as a member of the active roster.
“He took amazing jumps and leaps and bounds as far as his contribution for us. Excited about his future and just so unfortunate that the knee happened as it did,” said Ulbrich, who is preparing the Jets to face the Jacksonville Jaguars in a December 15 road test.
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Charles’s exit last Sunday noticeably affected multiple teammates.
“I thought it was amazing the way that you felt the sideline, too. With an injury like that, you just felt the love and regard this team has for him and what he has meant to this team. They were shook when he got hurt,” said Ulbrich.
It could’ve been a coincidence, but, with Charles unavailable, the Jets surrendered a 45-yard kickoff return that set up the Dolphins’ game-tying field goal.
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