The Jets had all of their starting wide receivers together with Sam Darnold for the first time but could not get their starting offensive line out there.
The Jets had a backup at left guard and a third-string right tackle starting in the 20-3 loss to the Dolphins.
The biggest surprise was left guard Alex Lewis being declared inactive. Lewis was not injured, and it appears he was sat down as a disciplinary measure.
“It was a team decision to make him inactive. It’s non-injury related,” Jets coach Adam Gase said.
When asked if it was disciplinary, Gase said: “We’re going to handle everything internally.”
Lewis was listed as questionable on Friday after being limited in practice for a non-injury reason.
Pat Elflein, who the Jets just claimed from the Vikings, started in place of Lewis. Elflein first practiced with the Jets on Wednesday. Conor McDermott started at right tackle in place of George Fant, who missed the game with ankle and knee injuries. Backup Chuma Edoga was also inactive with a sprained ankle.
This was the Jets’ sixth different starting offensive line this season.
“It’s tough,” right guard Greg Van Roten said. “You want to play the same five guys all year because that’s how you get in a rhythm. That’s how you stay consistent. It means you’re healthy. When you’re playing guys that you just signed, it’s tough.”
Van Roten said the players just found out on Saturday that Lewis would not be starting.
Dolphins TE Mike Gesicki did not think much of how the Jets played defense against them, especially WR DeVante Parker, who had eight catches for 119 yards.
“DeVante today, how many times are you going to play in man coverage?” Gesicki said. “Like, why are you doing that? Play Cover 2 or something else because DeVante is, he’s going to run, he’s going to get on the guy’s hip, the ball’s going to be back-shoulder, he’s going to catch it, and he’s not going to say anything when he celebrates. … So DeVante is going to have his eight for [119], and we’re just going to go about our day.”
The Jets were outscored, 44-3, in their two meetings with the Dolphins this year. The Jets have now lost six of their last seven meetings with the Dolphins. … LB Blake Cashman left the game with a hamstring injury, an issue that has plagued him for most of the year.
