FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Demaryius Thomas got word last Thursday that Adam Gase wanted to talk to him. So the Jets receiver made his way from New York’s locker room to his coach’s office. He walked through the door, then sat on the leather recliner on the other side of the L-shaped wooden desk.



When the Jets decided to place center Ryan Kalil on the injured reserve, a captaincy freed up. Gase had gone to the remaining group (Jamal Adams, Kelvin Beachum, Sam Darnold, Steve McLendon and C.J. Mosley) to ask who they believed should replace him. To a man, they all said Thomas.



Gase wanted to know if his 31-year-old wideout was up for the added responsibility.



Thomas smiled.



“‘Shit — let’s do this,'” he recalled saying. “I’m excited about it, man. I haven’t had that C in a while.”



The Jets acquired Thomas via a rare trade with the Patriots shortly after...