With the Jets’ top cornerback Darrelle Revis, sitting out Sunday’s game with a concussion, running back Joe McKnight may move to defense to give the Jets some depth in the secondary.
Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News reports that McKnight practiced at cornerback this week. McKnight, who played cornerback for one play last season, would be the fifth healthy cornerback on the roster with Revis out.
Moving McKnight to defense temporarily makes sense, as he doesn’t have much of a role on the offense now that he’s been beaten out by Bilal Powell for the third-down role. McKnight played just three snaps on offense in Week One against the Bills, in addition to playing 14 plays on special teams.
Jets coach Rex Ryan has said that he likes getting talented players on the field in any way he can, whether it’s Tim Tebow on special teams or Antonio Cromartie on offense. Although Cromartie didn’t play any offense in Week One, he said during training camp that he’s the second-best receiver on the team.
No word on whether McKnight considers himself the second-best cornerback on the Jets.