The New York Jets signed wide receiver/kick returner Diontae Spencer to a Reserve/Futures deal on Tuesday. Spencer spent some time on the Jets' practice squad in 2022 but never made it to the active roster on game day. The 30-year-old went undrafted out of McNeese State in 2019 and spent his first three seasons in the NFL with the Denver Broncos, catching 10 of 18 targets for 54 yards and no touchdowns in 42 games (to starts). He also returned 68 punts for 667 yards and one touchdown and returned 47 kickoffs for 1,008 yards with Denver. Spencer will serve as additional receiver depth for the Jets in 2023.
Kendall Hinton, Diontae Spencer Could See Expanded Roles
The Denver Broncos may be desperate for pass-catchers in Week 17 against the Los Angeles Chargers after they placed wide receivers Jerry Jeudy and Tim Patrick on the COVID-19 list. Courtland Sutton could be joining them there before Sunday's contest. If all three receivers are out, Kendall Hinton and Diontae Spencer could serve as the top two wideouts for quarterback Drew Lock. Hinton has 13 receptions for 152 yards and one touchdown on 18 targets in 14 games this year, while Spencer has just one grab for negative yards. Tight ends Noah Fant and Albert Okwuegbunam figure to be plenty involved, as do running backs Javonte Williams and Melvin Gordon. In Denver's low-scoring offense, Hinton and Spencer won't be worth chasing in deeper leagues.
Diontae Spencer Expected To Make Team As Sixth Receiver
Denver Broncos wide receiver Diontae Spencer is expected to make the team this fall as the sixth receiver, but he'll mainly be active on game days because he's the team's primary kick returner. Spencer is an afterthought on offense, as he's hauled in nine of his 14 targets for 57 yards and no touchdowns in his two seasons with the Broncos covering 27 games (two starts). If the 29-year-old is relied on as anything more than a kick returner in 2021, the Broncos offense will be in extreme trouble. Spencer can be ignored in all formats, unless it's an extremely deep league that counts points for return yardage.
