US View: Valentine Holmes’ ‘very slim’ NFL chances, best path to success, potential pre-season chance

Updates out of New York Jets camp on Valentine Holmes have been few and far between.

And it makes sense — apart from the classic ‘Who is the random Aussie guy?’ angle, Holmes is yet to make the kind of splash a beat writer would feel the need to pass on to a New York tragic.

But there are a bunch of folks Down Under who are intrigued at Holmes’ development, so foxsports.com.au spoke to the New York Post’s Brian Costello to see what’s been going on.

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As a reminder, for those who aren’t already sick of hearing it, Holmes is in New York after being assigned to the organisation as part of the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program.

He will have the same opportunity as every other player to make the final 53-man roster, but is automatically eligible for the practice squad if he misses out.

If placed in the practice squad with the international player exemption, Holmes won’t be eligible to feature in the 2019 regular season.

And according to Costello, the practice squad is looking more likely than any active role.

“I think his chances of making it onto the 53-man roster are very slim,” Costello told foxsports.com.au. “He has so much to learn and master and I don’t think he can do that in this short a time.”

Holmes is listed as a running back/wide receiver on the Jets’ official website, but has discussed getting his start in special teams; somewhere Costello believes his most realistic road to success lies.

“I think special teams is his best path,” Costello said. “If he can show that he is a good kick returner and can play some other special teams roles like gunner on punt team, that would give him a shot.”

“He is deep on the depth chart so it is hard to get a read on just how the Jets want to use him.”

Holmes is currently out of action with a tight back, per Costello, but the Jets don’t believe it’s serious enough to keep him out for long.

And that’s good news for the former rugby league star, who could see some action when the Jets take on the New York Giants in Game 1 of their pre-season on August 9 (AEST).

“I would expect to see him in the first pre-season game and the fourth pre-season game,” Costello revealed. “Those are typically when bottom of the roster guys get their shot.”

All in all, Costello’s evaluation doesn’t exactly paint a picture of Holmes coming in and turning heads in the way he probably needed to in order to force the Jets to take a chance on him. But that doesn’t mean he hasn’t impressed at all.

“I think the Jets have been impressed with how quickly he has picked things up but they know how difficult what he is trying to do is,” Costello explained.

“I don’t think he is a contributor yet ... he is just viewed as another guy trying to make it on the roster who has taken an unusual path.”