Jets football blog

Jets punter injured

For their biggest game of the season, the Jets may need a new punter.

Jets coach Rex Ryan said Friday that Steve Weatherford "did something with his right hamstring" in practice and is questionable for the Jets' do-or-die game against the Bengals tomorrow night.

"We'll see how he is," Ryan said. "We'll work some guys out (today) just to make sure we have a plan if he can't go. If something would happen to Steve during the game, then (kicker) Jay Feely would be our backup punter."

Leonhard to have surgery on thumb

NY Jets safety Jimi Leonhard was scheduled to have surgery on his broken right thumb Monday night.

Coach Rex Ryan was uncertain of the nature of the procedure, or whether Leonhard might be sidelined this weekend or longer.

"They said when they go in, they'll have a much better idea," Ryan said of the doctors. "They don't even know if they're going to put screws in it, what they're going to do.

"When I heard it, surgery, that doesn't sound good to me." Continue

Cotchery out

The Jets had hoped to get Jerricho Cotchery back from his hamstring injury in time to play tomorrow in Oakland, but the starting wide receiver will miss his second straight week. Considering the passing game fell apart last week -- with Gang Green throwing six interceptions -- that cannot be good news.

"Jerricho's not going to be able to play this week," coach Rex Ryan said yesterday. "I was hoping Jerricho [would] be able to do it, but to make that trip all the way out there, we feel it's best for him to stay back and rehab. . . . He's not going to play. Continue

Jenkins out for year

The Jets' worst fear was confirmed Monday when an MRI exam revealed a torn anterior cruciate ligament in Kris Jenkins' left knee, a source told the Daily News. He will undergo season-ending surgery, a devastating blow to the defense.

The Pro Bowl nose tackle was injured with five minutes left in the second quarter of Sunday's 16-13 overtime loss to the Bills. His knee buckled in a tangle of bodies as he was pursuing a ballcarrier. Teammate Shaun Ellis inadvertently crashed into the back of Jenkins' leg, causing a buckling action. Continue

Jets may not have Cotchery vs Fins

The Jets may need Braylon Edwards to play a bigger role than expected on Monday night.

Leading receiver Jerricho Cotchery did not practice Friday due to a hamstring injury, and head coach Rex Ryan said there's "a possibility" the Jets may face the Dolphins without Cotchery. "His hamstring is still bothering him some," Ryan said. "(I'm) definitely not ruling him out, but he's not 100% right now. I'm expecting him to play, but (missing the game is) a definite possibility."

Cotchery practiced on a limited basis on Thursday before sitting out Friday in sweats and doing some bike work. The wide receiver was not in the locker room during the media availability to talk about the injury. The Jets have three more days to get Cotchery ready for Monday night, and teammates such as Dustin Keller expect Cotchery to play. But if Cotchery can't go, the Jets will be without their leading receiver, who has 23 catches for 356 yards and one touchdown. Continue

Sheppard and Strickland out vs Titans

The Jets' defense will face the Titans without CBs Lito Sheppard and Donald Strickland. The two were ruled out Friday, not too long after Rex Ryan had said Sheppard's status might be a game-time decision. Sheppard (quadricep) and Strickland (ankle) did not practice all week long.

CB Dwight Lowery will start in place of Sheppard, and CB Drew Coleman will play in nickel packages.

"We'll be fine there," Ryan said. "We won't, obviously, have the depth that we normally have, but those guys can play. Like we say, we have no excuses regardless of who's up or who's down. This is a football team. Everybody goes through bumps and bruises."

The Jets brought in two CBs - ex-Jet Justin Miller and former Raven Corey Ivy - Friday for visits. Continue 

Alan Faneca out for preseason game

The Jets offensive line is clogging up the trainer's room.

The unit lost another member for tomorrow's preseason opener when the team announced left guard Alan Faneca broke the middle finger on his left hand. Faneca sat out last night's practice at Hofstra University.  Both Faneca and coach Rex Ryan said the injury is not serious, but it leaves the team without three of its starting offensive linemen. The makeshift line will lead Ryan to cut back on the playing time of quarterbacks Mark Sanchez and Kellen Clemens tomorrow against the Rams. Continue

Concussed WR Laveranues Coles listed as probable for Chiefs game

Laveranues Coles appears ready to play Sunday after he was medically cleared and practiced fully Friday. Coles, who passed neurological tests, was upgraded to probable with a low-grade concussion, according to a source. The news came one day after Eric Mangini said Coles was suffering from a concussion but did not reveal how severe it was, fueling speculation that the wide receiver would miss Sunday's game against the Chiefs. It's Coles' third head injury in 22 months. Continue

Concussion sidelines Laveranues Coles, may not play against Chiefs

Laveranues Coles spent only one minute, 16 seconds on the bench - nine minutes in real time - after being knocked woozy in the fourth quarter of Sunday's overtime loss to the Raiders. His quick return seemed to indicate everything was okay. It's not okay.

Coles suffered a concussion, coach Eric Mangini acknowledged Thursday - the third head injury in the last 22 months for the Jets' fearless wide receiver. Mangini wouldn't rule him out for Sunday's game against the Chiefs at the Meadowlands, but Coles didn't practice for the second straight day and appears unlikely to play. Continue

Jets' Kris Jenkins expected back against Cardinals

Jets nose tackle Kris Jenkins didn't practice Wednesday because of a back injury, but he's expected to play Sunday against the Cardinals, according to Eric Mangini. That's good news for the Jets' defense, which sagged against the run once Jenkins left Monday night's loss in San Diego.

Sidelined in the first quarter, Jenkins said he was "real close" to returning. "If I would've had to, or if I felt like I absolutely needed to get back out there, I would've had to sacrifice myself a little bit and deal with the pain," he said. "It was a call on the sideline and I had to roll with it." Jenkins refused to discuss the specifics, but he said he's dealt with a back problem in the past, adding, "I know how to get through it." Continue