It took nine games and multiple injuries, but the Breshad Perriman the Jets were counting on finally showed up.
For one night, he was a game-breaker, beating the Patriots deep and providing a vertical threat that could stretch a defense.
It didn’t result in a win — the Jets blew a 10-point fourth-quarter lead in a dismal 30-27 defeat to fall to 0-9 — but at least Perriman provided some production for a change.
He caught five passes for 101 yards — 17 fewer yards than he had managed all year — and two touchdown catches. He hauled in a long 50-yard score from Joe Flacco and also caught a 15-yard touchdown pass.
“I did feel pretty good,” said Perriman, who missed last Sunday’s loss to the Chiefs with a concussion. “I felt like I got good releases today. It definitely went good for me. I was just out there having fun, playing free.”
The second time the 27-year-old Perriman found pay dirt, it gave the Jets a 27-17 lead with 30 seconds left in the third quarter. But they couldn’t close out their first victory of the season, allowing the Patriots to score the game’s final 13 points.
His standout performance also came on the night the Jets had their three starting receivers all active in the same game for the first time this season. Rookie Denzel Mims caught four passes for 62 yards, and Jamison Crowder added a 20-yard touchdown catch as the Jets scored three offensive touchdowns for the first time in a game this season.
“I had Jamison out there and Mims back,” Perriman said. “That was definitely fun and I felt the energy from them boys just being out there collectively. That was a great feeling for me.”
In the offseason, the Jets signed Perriman to a one-year, $8 million deal after letting Robby Anderson go to the Panthers, a move that has thus far backfired. While Perriman has been either hurt, missing four games due to injury, or previously ineffective, Anderson has thrived with Carolina, catching 60 passes for 751 yards.
For one night at least, the enigmatic receiver showed the potential that led the Jets to bring him in. Now he has to stay on the field and add consistency to this breakout performance.
