What will break it?

If Conklin and Uzomah remain healthy again, it’s likely that they’ll again take the lion’s share of the available reps at this position, but Ruckert must win the battle for the No. 3 role if he’s going to secure himself some viable opportunities. He has some competition, though, led by seventh-round pick Zack Kuntz who is raw, but a sensational athlete. Undrafted rookies E.J. Jenkins and Izaiah Gathings could also factor into the competition. Jenkins, a former receiver, has playmaking potential and Gathings earned a contract by standing out at rookie camp.

Last summer, Ruckert was suffering from plantar fasciitis following a foot injury suffered at the Senior Bowl and this caused him to miss the first week of camp and fall behind Cager. If he has further injury setbacks this summer, that could give opportunities to the likes of Kuntz, Jenkins, Gathings or Yeboah and it could be challenging to recover that ground in a crowded tight end group.

There has also been some speculation that the Jets could look to bring in Aaron Rodgers’ former teammate Marcedes Lewis. While this was ruled out, he is still on the market. If the Jets revisit this option, it could be a sign that the young tight ends are not developing as well as hoped.

What will make it?

While his main competition comes from a group of players with a lot of raw potential, Ruckert can establish himself as the No. 3 by proving he’s the most NFL-ready of the group. His blocking skills and ability to contribute on special teams will need to be on display to prove he’s worthy not just of a roster spot but also of being active on gamedays and, ultimately, receiving regular offensive reps.

If Ruckert can be productive in a No. 3 role, then the team will start to view him as a viable option to start for them in 2024 and beyond. Obviously if Conklin or Uzomah miss any time then he will get his chance to show what he can do. In fact, Uzomah already got hurt during OTAs earlier this month, but indications are that he’ll be ready for training camp.

Ruckert can help himself with a strong preseason. The veterans will probably be rested for the first two games, so Ruckert should get an extended opportunity to contribute. Last season, he caught six passes in preseason, including a short touchdown, but only averaged four yards per catch, so he needs to showcase more ability to be a threat in the passing game.

Popular in the Community