The Jets changed quarterbacks this week and got one of their biggest passing plays of the season on a 42-yard catch by Clyde Gates.
The two things are exclusive of one another. The pass to Gates was not thrown by Greg McElroy but by wide receiver Jeremy Kerley out of an unusual formation that had Kerley sharing the backfield with three other Jets. Kerley, who had a 41-yard completion in the season finale last year, lofted a pass that Gates outjumped the Chargers to corral at the San Diego 11-yard line. It was a well-designed play by the Jets, which makes you wonder why they waited so long to bust it out.
It wasn’t the end of the non-quarterbacks taking snaps for the Jets. Running back Shonn Greene ran for three yards off a direct snap on the next play and the Jets eventually cashed in with a one-yard Greene run for their first touchdown of the game.
The score tied the game at 7. The Chargers grabbed an early lead on a 63-yard punt return for a touchdown by Micheal Spurlock after the Jets went three-and-out on their first possession of the game. That’s not the way longtime Jets special teams coach Mike Westhoff wanted to start his final home game before retirement.