The Sports Xchange

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — The New York Jets’ wide receiving corps took an unexpected hit Monday, when second-year player Quincy Enunwa was suspended four games by the NFL for violating its personal conduct policy.

The suspension comes 14 months after Enunwa was arrested on domestic violence charges at a hotel near the Jets’ training complex in New Jersey. He was charged a week after the NFL unveiled a six-week suspension for first-time domestic violence offenders. ESPNNewYork.com reported Enunwa received a four-game ban because he cooperated with the league during its investigation and displayed remorse.

Enunwa will not be allowed to participate in meetings and other team activities during the suspension, which will cost him more than $100,000 in salary. He can rejoin the Jets on Nov. 12, the day after the Jets host the Buffalo Bills.

Head coach Todd Bowles acknowledged Monday he was surprised by the timing of the suspension but that he knew it was a possibility going back to training camp.

“Surprised it happened so late in the season, being it’s something that happened last year, but that’s the process they went through and they took their time going through it,” Bowles said. “We respect their decision and we’re going to move forward from there.”

Enunwa opened the season as the Jets’ No. 3 receiver, though he had only eight catches for 94 yards in five games. Veteran wide receiver Jeremy Kerley, who has been buried on the depth chart under the Jets’ new regime, should see increased snaps in Enunwa’s absence.

Enunwa is the third Jets player suspended by the NFL this season. Defensive end Sheldon Richardson missed the first four games of the season and former offensive lineman Oday Aboushi missed the opener due to drug-related violations of the personal conduct policy. All three players were drafted by former general manager John Idzik.

Richardson made his season debut Sunday, recording three tackles and half a sack. Richardson missed the first four games while serving an NFL suspension for failing multiple marijuana tests. He played 49 out of 63 snaps Sunday.

–The Jets suffered at least two injuries Sunday, when running back Bilal Powell exited with a sprained ankle and cornerback Buster Skrine left with a head injury.

Powell, who battled a groin injury earlier this month, was replaced as the third-down back by Zac Stacy. First-string back Chris Ivory also saw more time on passing downs and picked up the blitz that quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick eluded on his way to the go-ahead 18-yard touchdown run.

The bigger loss could be Skrine, who would be part of the “all hands on deck” approach against the potent New England Patriots this Sunday in Foxborough. Bowles said Monday that Skrine is feeling better but that he’s in the concussion protocol.

“He said he’s feeling fine,” Bowles said. “But saying it and doing other things is a different deal.”

–Wide receiver Brandon Marshall continues his attack to be the most prolific Jets receiver in one season. Sunday, he made seven catches for 111 yards and a touchdown. It was the franchise record-tying fourth straight 100-yard game for Marshall, who joins George Sauer (1966) and Hall of Famer Don Maynard (1968) in the exclusive club. Marshall has 37 catches for 511 yards, which puts him on pace to break the Jets’ single-season record in both categories. Looking at single-season records for the Jets, Al Toon has the most catches (93 in 1988, in 15 games) and Maynard has the most yards receiving (1,434 in 1967, in 14 games). After five games, Marshall is averaging 7.4 catches a game and 102.2 yards. Extrapolating those numbers over 16 games would give Marshall 118 catches for 1,635 yards.