Nebraska football: Quincy Enunwa leads Jets receivers in first game back

Former Nebraska football receiver Quincy Enunwa put up big numbers in his first regular season game in over a year.

Quincy Enunwa announced his return to the NFL with authority on Monday night. The former Nebraska football star led all Jets receivers in receptions and yards as the New York Jets routed the Detroit Lions.

Enunwa has shown the ability to dominate a game before. The problem for the former Cornhusker has always been whether or not he could stay healthy.

After a breakout 2016 season that saw him rise to the ranks of the Jets’ top receiver, he suffered a neck injury before the 2017 season even got started. That injury eventually led him to miss the entire year.

2018 was always supposed to be his redemption year but he suffered a thumb injury before preseason camp ramped up. Returning towards the end of camp, it wasn’t wrong to question just how much of an impact he was going to have at the beginning of 2018.

That question was answered in spades on Monday night in the Jets 48-17 victory. Quincy led the team in catches with six and receiving yards with 63. He also had one of the two touchdowns rookie quarterback Sam Darnold tossed.

Best of all, the touchdown showed just why Enunwa could be a very valuable asset to the Jets this season. The former Cornhusker is learning to use his big body to outmuscle defenders.

On the 21 yard catch he snagged the ball at the 20, then ran into traffic around they eight-yard line and busted through two tacklers in order to find his way to the end zone.

It’s a safe bet that kind of physicality, mixed with very good hands is going to be a great tool in the toolbox for his rookie quarterback. Coming off back-to-back down years, Quincy Enunwa looks like he could help lead the turnaround for the New York Jets. In the long run, that will be good for the Nebraska football team as well.