#Jets’ Breshad Perriman, Mekhi Becton may return against Dolphins

The winless Jets actually appear to be making progress with some of their key injured players.

Starting wide receiver Breshad Perriman is “trending in the right direction” to play Sunday at Miami, according to beleaguered coach Adam Gase.

Rookie left tackle Mekhi Becton also has not been ruled out yet (he’s officially listed as doubtful) after returning to individual drills and possibly more Friday in practice.

Gase ordinarily wants players to return to full team drills before playing them in games, but said he’d “make an exception” with Becton if the medical staff clears him to face the Dolphins.

“He’s pretty good. I’m all for having our best player out there. All for it,” Gase said before practice in Florham Park. “We’ll start in individuals and see where it goes from there. … Anything past that is a great positive for us.”

The Jets’ first-round draft pick initially injured his shoulder in the Week 3 loss to Indianapolis.

Becton was dressed, but not expected to play the following Thursday night against the Broncos. He nevertheless gave it a try after his replacement, Chuma Edoga, also suffered a shoulder injury early in the first quarter.

The 6-foot-7 rookie had to be removed from that game by halftime because the pain was intolerable, and he later was diagnosed with a capsule injury, forcing him to miss last week’s loss to the Cardinals.

Gase said he was “fired up” about Becton’s potential return to practice. And he’s “not worried” the rookie will attempt to convince the coaching staff to let him play even if he’s not physically ready.

“It’s all about [whether] the trainers and doctors have concern. If they don’t, and [Becton] feels the right way, then we have a chance,” Gase said. “If he feels like something doesn’t feel right, then we don’t. That’s about as far as I’m looking right now.”

Gase sounded more optimistic that Perriman would return to the lineup Sunday for the first time since he suffered an ankle injury in Week 2 against the 49ers.

“Things are trending in the right direction. We need to have another good day [Friday],” Gase said. “But it’s good to get some of these guys out there.”

Due to his speed and ability to work downfield, Perriman’s injury “wiped out a lot of things in our game plan,” Gase added. In his last five games last season with the Buccaneers, Perriman had 25 receptions for 506 yards and five touchdowns.

A return by Perriman would help, with veteran Chris Hogan out this week with a high ankle sprain and Joe Flacco slated to make his second straight start at quarterback in place of Sam Darnold (shoulder).

“I think it helps anytime you get a guy who’s as fast as he is,” Gase said of Perriman. “It puts a different pressure on the defense. We haven’t had anybody with this kind of speed out there since he’s been gone.

“With the combination we have right now, I think our speed’s increasing on the outside, which is extremely helpful at that position. If he’s ready to go, I don’t see any restrictions on him.”