The Jets will head to New England without a key player, Jeremy Kerley.
Kerley, the wide receiver who plays an important role on offense and on special teams, where he’s the Jets’ primary punt returner, has been ruled out with a concussion.
Kerley suffered the concussion when Tampa Bay’s Mark Barron hit him in the second quarter of Sunday’s game. Kerley passed concussion tests at the time and returned to the game, but on Monday he began to show concussion symptoms.
Barron’s hit drew a 15-yard penalty and was very costly for the Bucs, giving the Jets a first down on third-and-long and extending a drive that ended with a Jets touchdown. Kerley’s injury could make the hit even more costly for the Jets.
The Jets have also confirmed that outside linebacker Quinton Coples and quarterback Mark Sanchez will miss Thursday night.