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— The New York Jets will spend the next few weeks sorting through their intriguing quarterback situation Curtis Samuel Jersey , with Sam Darnold, Josh McCown and Teddy Bridgewater the clear focus of attention.

But the tight ends are in perhaps the most tightly contested competition of camp.

New York has a group of five mostly unheralded players trying to win roster spots and be among the guys catching passes from whoever ends up under center this season.

“It’s tough,” coach Todd Bowles said. “We’ve got a lot of competition there. Those guys work hard every day. From top to bottom, it’s probably the deepest we’ve had since I’ve been here.”

Clive Walford and Neal Sterling are the most experienced of the bunch, with both entering their fourth NFL season — but are hardly household names. Eric Tomlinson has established himself as a solid pass-blocking tight end since entering the league in 2015.

Jordan Leggett was a fifth-round draft pick last year, but spent most of the season on injured reserve and is again dealing with an undisclosed injury that has sidelined him the last few practices.

The Jets also drafted Chris Herndon this year in the fourth round, and has an opportunity to win the starting job.

New York actually opened camp with six tight ends, but waived Bucky Hodges after just two practices.

“I think they are all doing a decent job and I think that’s going to be a tough call and that will be one of the tougher position battles that we are going to have to judge going in,” Bowles said. “We’ll continue to monitor it, but I think all of those guys are doing well.”

The tight end position had been mostly an afterthought in the Jets’ offense in recent seasons until Austin Seferian-Jenkins caught a career-high 50 passes to rank third on the team in receptions. But he signed with Jacksonville in March after New York allowed him to leave as a free agent.

“All of them have good hands,” tight ends coach Jimmie Johnson said during minicamp in June. “I can’t sit here and say one of them catches the ball better than the other.”

Here’s a look at the five tight ends competing for roster spots:

CHRIS HERNDON

6-foot-4, 253 pounds, 22 years old, rookie, Miami.

Herndon had four catches in team drills during the Jets’ scrimmage at Rutgers on Saturday night, continuing a strong camp.

“He’s had good practices John Simon Jersey ,” Bowles said. “When the lights come on next Friday night when we play our first preseason game (vs. Atlanta) those guys will get a real chance to play.”

Herndon had 86 catches for 1,048 yards and seven touchdowns in four seasons with the Hurricanes, and was regarded as a mostly solid blocker. He injured a knee late last season and was limited in spring workouts, but is now healthy.

It’s uncertain, however, if he’ll be available at the start of the regular season. Herndon was arrested in May for driving while intoxicated in New Jersey and is facing possible discipline from the NFL.

JORDAN LEGGETT

6-5, 258, 23, second season, Clemson.

Leggett might be the biggest wild-card in the bunch because he hasn’t been able to stay healthy, but has displayed solid pass-catching skills when he’s been on the field.

Leggett actually entered camp last year expected to be the starter on opening day because Seferian-Jenkins had to serve a two-game suspension for a DUI. But Leggett injured a knee early in the preseason and had his season officially end in October when he was placed on IR.

NEAL STERLING

6-4, 257, 26, fourth season, Monmouth.

Sterling has shown good hands this summer after limited action with the Jets last season.

He was a seventh-round pick of Jacksonville in 2015 and had no catches in nine games. Sterling caught 12 passes for 110 yards in his second season with the Jaguars, but was waived last September as one of the team’s camp cuts.

The Jets signed him and waived him a month later Vontae Davis Jersey , but then plucked him from Kansas City’s practice squad last October.

ERIC TOMLINSON

6-6, 263, 26, third season, UTEP.

Tomlinson came to the Jets in 2016 with a reputation for being a good blocker during stints in camps with Philadelphia and Houston.

He played in seven games with New York two years ago, including five starts, but didn’t flash much pass-catching ability until last season when he had eight receptions for 121 yards and his first NFL touchdown. Tomlinson is also a solid special teamer.

“Tomlinson played well for us last year,” Bowles said. “He is kind of our rock, and he’s solid this year. He’s really our unsung ‘Steady Eddy’ guy.”

CLIVE WALFORD

6-4, 250, 26, fourth season, Miami.

Walford was a third-round pick by Oakland in 2015 and showed promise in the Raiders’ offense while catching three TD passes in each of his first two seasons.

A switch in offensive coordinators last season led to a reduced role for Walford, who was third on the depth chart behind Jared Cook and Lee Smith to start the year. Walford had just three catches through the first 12 games, and finished with nine receptions and no TDs after a concussion sidelined him the final three weeks.

He was released by Oakland in March, and claimed off waivers by New York.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone would like to see Luis Severino start the All Star game for the American League.

He just wants someone else to take over in the second inning.

Severino pitched five innings to earn his major league-leading 14th win Troy Hill Jersey , Brett Gardner and Aaron Judge each hit solo home runs, and New York beat the Toronto Blue Jays 8-5 Saturday.

Severino (14-2) won his fifth straight start, allowing three runs and five hits. Two of the hits off Severino were home runs, marking the first time this season that he has allowed more than one homer in a game. Severino has allowed three earned runs or less in 16 consecutive starts.

”He’s been everything you want an ace to be,” Boone said.

The All-Star rosters will be announced Sunday, although starting pitchers for each league won’t be named until the day before the game.

”I’d love to see him start, and go one inning,” Boone said.

Jonathan Holder, David Robertson, Dellin Betances each worked one inning and Aroldis Chapman got the first out of the ninth before leaving with a sore left knee, the same injury that has bothered him for several weeks.

”Just a little more discomfort than what I usually have been feeling,” Champman said through a translator.

With the Yankees ahead by four runs, Boone wasn’t about to take any chances.

”He said he was fine to continue but I just didn’t want to mess with it,” Boone said.

Chasen Shreve finished for New York, giving up a solo homer to Aledmys Diaz.

Gardner connected on left-hander J.A. Happ’s first pitch of the game, the 14th leadoff homer of his career and first time he’s gone deep on the opening pitch.

Judge piled on when he homered on Happ’s fifth pitch Christian Kirksey Jersey , his 25th of the season.

”He does a good job of really painting the corners and mixing his pitches well,” Judge said of Happ.” We were able to capitalize on a couple that were out over the plate.”

Happ (10-5), a potential trade target for the Yankees, had a dreadful audition. He allowed six runs and four hits in 2 2-3 innings, his shortest start of the season.

”You never know what’s speculation, what’s truth, and what has any realistic chance,” Happ said of the trade rumours. ”I’m just trying to play and pitch and I’m happy right here.”

Happ matched season-worsts by allowing seven runs and 10 hits in his previous outing, last Sunday against Detroit. It’s the first time in Happ’s career that he has allowed at least six earned runs in consecutive starts. Happ has lost back-to-back outings following a six-game winning streak.

Brandon Drury hit a two-run double in the first and Gardner hit a two-run triple in the fifth before scoring on catcher Luke Maile’s passed ball.

Toronto’s Kevin Pillar hit a two-run homer in the second and Randal Grichuk added a solo shot in the fourth.

New York outfielder Aaron Hicks left after four innings because of a sore left hamstring. Clint Frazier came on to play left field in the bottom of the fifth, with Gardner moving from left to center.

Boone said Hicks will get the day off Sunday in the hopes that he’ll be ready to return for Monday’s doubleheader at Baltimore.

Home plate umpire Lance Barrett made two ejections, both in the third inning. Yankees left-hander CC Sabathia was ejected for arguing balls and strikes from the bench moments before Blue Jays manager John Gibbons was also tossed for arguing.

CATCH OF THE DAY

Toronto’s Curtis Granderson made a sensational diving catch to retire Kyle Higashioka for the final out of the first.

WALK THIS WAY

The Yankees drew 10 walks, their highest total of 2018. It was the most issued in a single game by the Blue Jays this season.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Yankees: New York recalled Frazier from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre and designated RHP David Hale for assignment. Hale pitched 5 2-3 innings Friday in relief of RHP Sonny Gray. … C Gary Sanchez (right groin) caught RHP Masahiro Tanaka’s pregame bullpen session and also took two rounds of batting practice. Boone said Sanchez could begin a minor league rehab assignment July 15. … Triple-A RHP Luis Cessa is expected to start the second game of Monday’s doubleheader. Triple-A RHP Jonathan Loaisiga was a candidate for the start but has been ruled out because of a sore shoulder. Boone said Loaisiga had an MRI Friday and will visit New York’s team doctor Monday.

Blue Jays: RHP Rhiner Cruz (right groin) left in the ninth inning. … RHP Preston Guilmet was assigned to Triple-A Buffalo. Guilmet was designated for assignment Wednesday.

UP NEXT

Yankees RHP Domingo German (2-4, 5.37) faces Blue Jays LHP Ryan Borucki (0-1, 2.77) in Sunday’s series finale. German has failed to complete five innings in his past two starts. Borucki made his home debut against Detroit on Monday, allowing two runs and two hits in seven innings.

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