Eric Decker Injury Update: WR Placed on IR, Reportedly Out for Season

New York Jets wide receiver Eric Decker was placed on injured reserve Wednesday due to a shoulder injury, and he is expected to miss the remainder of the season. 

The Jets announced the decision to send Decker to IR with a partially torn rotator cuff, and NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported that a source said the wideout will undergo season-ending surgery to correct the issue.

SiriusXM Sports injury analyst Dr. David J. Chao explained the likely reasoning behind Decker's undergoing surgery:

The receiver missed each of the Jets' past two games while nursing his shoulder, but he registered nine receptions for 194 yards and two touchdowns in three previous contests.

The former University of Minnesota standout signed with the Jets prior to the 2014 season after spending four years with the Denver Broncos, and he enjoyed one of his most productive campaigns in 2015 with 80 catches for 1,027 yards and 12 touchdowns.

With Decker out of the picture, the Jets will place even greater emphasis on No. 1 wideout Brandon Marshall. The surprising Quincy Enunwa figures to be thrust into a full-time starting role.

Enunwa has been a revelation for Gang Green in 2016 with 27 grabs for 294 yards and one touchdown.

Rookies Jalin Marshall, Charone Peake and Robby Anderson will battle it out for targets, while recently acquired tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins could become a bigger part of the passing game as well.

New York has struggled to a 1-4 start, and quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick's job could be hanging by a thread with 10 interceptions in five games.

While the Jets still have enough weapons in the passing game to put points on the board even without Decker, his absence will make life far more difficult for Fitzpatrick and could lead to more double coverage for Marshall.

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