Rich Cimini of ESPN New York reports that tight end Dustin Keller (ankle) has been downgraded to out for Week Seventeen and did not make the trip to Buffalo for Sunday’s season finale. Keller was listed as doubtful on Friday’s injury report.
The Jets also downgraded wide receiver Chaz Schilens (knee) and cornerback Ellis Lankster (concussion) to out.
Keller is an impending unrestricted free agent and may be finished with the Jets. He labored through an injury-plagued 2012 campaign, appearing in just eight games en route to career lows in receptions (28) and yards (317).
28-year-old Keller has made it clear that he would not be pleased with the franchise tag. The train-wreck Jets are an organization that should be seeking to avoid conflict rather than embrace more of it, so perhaps they’ll make Keller a long-term contract offer after the season, and let him walk if no agreement is reached.
Along with Jared Cook (Titans), Fred Davis (Redskins), and Martellus Bennett (Giants), Keller is among the top tight ends projected to be available on the 2013 free-agent market.