Mory Bamba didn't just miss an opportunity to suit up for the New York Jets' during their preseason victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. He missed a shot at building on some serious momentum birthed during the opener. Let's just say he made quite the impression.
His work from the week before was so good that it's still earning recognition. Following Week 2 of the preseason,Pro Football Focus continued to rank Bamba among the NFL's highest-graded rookies. The Jets cornerback checked in with an 86.0 overall grade, placing him among the league's top first-year performers through two weeks of exhibition play.
The ranking is particularly impressive all things considered. Again, it bears repeating. His grade is based entirely onhis preseason debut
against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Bamba was targeted 10 times on just 29 coverage snaps, allowing four receptions for 54 yards while also recording two pass breakups, two tackles, and a defensive stop. One of his best moments came on a pass breakup in the end zone, while he also flashed on special teams during an encouraging all-around performance.
Unfortunately, an injury kept him out of the Steelers game and could complicate his path to the 53-man roster. Still, Bamba may have shown enough to remain firmly in the organization's plans. The Jets face difficult roster decisions in the coming days, but developmental cornerbacks who flash both defensive and special teams value are often worth keeping around.
Whether that means a roster spot or a place on the practice squad remains to be seen. What is clear is that Bamba made the most of his opportunity when he was healthy, and PFF's latest rankings suggest his performance didn't go unnoticed.
This article originally appeared on Jets Wire: PFF: Jets' DB Mory Bamba among NFL's top preseason rookies
