Jets' WR Irvin Charles, nicknamed "The Wolf" on special teams, is trying to separate from the pack as a receiver.
After he carved a role for himself as a starting gunner last season, his goal this offseason was to bridge the gap between his play as a gunner and as a receiver.
Charles started quiet in training camp but erupted in Tuesday's practice with two touchdowns and two chunk gains, all on passes from Tyrod Taylor. Taylor, in the end-of-game situation, turned to Charles on the first play, which took the offense from its 28-yard line to the defense's 48. After an incompletion on the next play, Taylor uncorked a shot to the second-year wideout, who caught the ball near the goal line and barreled his way into the endzone.
"It's satisfying, I'll say that," Charles said after Tuesday's practice. "You put in the work and having it pay off on big days like this, on a high-rep day like today, it's comforting. It confirms that the work you're doing, that I'm doing a good thing and I'm on the right path. So if anything, I'm just going to go harder, try to just keep working on and keep building."
Offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett said the biggest difference for Charles, who took 43 snaps on offense last season compared to 236 on special teams, is comfort in the system. Charles signed with the Jets as an undrafted free agent in 2022 out of Indiana (PA) when Mike LaFleur was the team's OC.
"To go back-to-back years with the same system makes it so that you can go out there and play," Hackett said. "I think that for Irv, he's been able to get out there, line up, run his route and not think about where he has to line up, what is this concept? What am I trying to do?
"Obviously we know what kind of special-teams player he is, we understand his physicality and now he has the ability to start expanding as a wide receiver, which we saw some of it [Tuesday]. He did some great things and he's continually developing."
Charles, who grew up in Sicklerville, NJ, emphasized his route running, catching the ball at the point of attack and studying defenses throughout the offseason. As a gunner, his next step is consistency.
See the best photos from Tuesday's open practice at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center.
"I think Irv has as much talent as anybody in the league and I think he can be a dominant player in this league," ST coordinator Brant Boyer said. … "Like any other player at any other position, these young guys have to be more consistent, really have to know their job, know what they're doing every time, play within the scheme, but take your shots when you get them.
"He's going to be a heavily relied on guy for us this year."
Charles had 6 special-teams tackles last season, which tied for third on the team. Now, he has an opportunity to take on a leadership role left vacant by captain Justin Hardee, who signed with the Browns this offseason.
"That's still my guy to this day," Charles said of his former teammate. "Everything that I learned from him as far as studying the game, preparing for the game and knowing your opponent stuck with me. I just remember everything he put me through, so I harp on that.
"It's all about stepping up and filling that role, whatever it may be. I'm here for the team. I'm a team player, so whatever it takes to get to the Super Bowl, I'm going to do it."
