Eric Mangini was about as willing to give out information yesterday as his buddy Tony Soprano is when talking to the feds.
Mangini ducked, dodged and avoided answering anything specific about quarterback Chad Pennington and his injured right ankle, sticking to his own version of omerta that applies to injuries.
“We’ll review it during the course of the week, like we do every injury situation,” Mangini said. “This is the same process for everybody that’s injured. That’s really all there is in terms of an update on him.”
Pennington was nowhere to be seen yesterday when the Jets locker room opened to reporters. Judging by the way he limped out of Giants Stadium Sunday night, it would be shocking to see him under center on Sunday when the Jets face the Ravens. He appeared to have a severe ankle sprain and was unable to put weight on the ankle for any period of time.
Mangini would not even acknowledge Pennington had an MRI, never mind revealing the results of one.
Unless Pennington makes an amazing recovery, the Jets will turn to second-year quarterback Kellen Clemens in Baltimore as they attempt to bounce back from Sunday’s 38-14 loss to New England.
Clemens played Sunday after Pennington injured the ankle. He went 5-for-10 for 35 yards. The 24-year-old said he’s ready if called upon.
“This is my second year in the offense,” Clemens said. “I’ve had a chance to get some live bullets, especially this last week. I’m going to go in there and do the best I can.”
Clemens said he saw Pennington yesterday during meetings, but the two did not discuss Pennington’s health. Clemens is coming off a strong preseason, when he completed 30-of-41 passes for 364 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions.
“I think Kellen had a very good preseason,” Mangini said. “I think he’s made a lot of progress from last year’s training camp to this year’s training camp and that’s why he’s our No. 2, where last year he was primarily our No. 3 guy.”
If Pennington is down for an extended time, it could be a crushing blow. The eight-year veteran looked sharp against New England, throwing for 167 yards and two touchdowns on 16-of-21 passing.
The problem was he could only do that when he was upright and the Jets’ offensive line did not keep him that way. Pennington was sacked four times, with one by Jarvis Green in the third quarter resulting in his injury. The Jets line was one of the major problems exposed by the Pats.
“You feel pretty bad,” guard Brandon Moore said of letting up five sacks on Sunday. “We take pride in protecting Chad or Kellen or any other quarterback back there. He got hit early and we’ve got to do a better job of that and make him feel a little more comfortable in the pocket.”
The Jets did their best yesterday to avoid doomsday talk after one game. The Patriots beat the Jets every way possible on Sunday leading some fans and media members to write them off after Week 1.
“We’re not happy we lost, but you can’t linger on that,” defensive end Kenyon Coleman said. “You just move on. We’re getting ready for the Ravens.”