He may not have played in the preseason, but Kenyon Sadiq is already having an impact in his first taste of NFL action.
The former Oregon Ducks tight end took the field in Nashville on Sunday with the New York Jets, which drafted him in the first round of the NFL draft in April, against the Tennessee Titans. Sadiq missed time in training camp and all of the preseason while recovering from a minor hernia procedure, but with the regular season kicking off, Sadiq wasted no time introducing himself to Jets fans.
On New York's first offensive drive of the season, Sadiq made a catch for seven yards on a pass from veteran quarterback Geno Smith. After the Jets drove down the field and were near the goal line, Sadiq scored his first career touchdown as a pro,
but did so as a runner rather than a pass catcher.
Sadiq came across the formation in motion and took the handoff from Smith before dashing three yards off the left side and into the end zone for the first touchdown of the season for the Jets. Sadiq used to handle similar TE end-around rushes while playing for the Ducks. He never scored on such a play in Eugene, but did it on his first try in the NFL.
Kenyon Sadiq starts off his NFL career with a rushing TD!
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According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Sadiq topped 20 miles per hour on the turf in Tennessee, marking the fastest carry by a Jets ballcarrier since 2016. Sadiq ran the fastest 40-yard dash ever by a tight end at the NFL Combine, and speed is a huge part of his game.
Despite missing out on part of his rookie offseason in New York, an early score could be a sign that Sadiq is in line for a sizable role with the Jets right away. He is part of a crowded tight ends room, which includes Mason Taylor, but the latest first-round selection by the Jets has fans excited for the future, especially if he can celebrate in the end zone often.
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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Former Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq scores TD for Jets in NFL debut
