Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie is expected to play Sunday against the Steelers, according to a source.
Cromartie injured his knee in practice Thursday, giving the team a scare, but an MRI exam revealed no structural damage. He just hyperextended the knee. Cromartie was listed as questionable on Friday’s injury report, but the source said there was “never any doubt” Cromartie would play.
The Jets will be without rookie cornerback Dee Milliner, who was ruled out with a hamstring injury Friday. If they had been down two cornerbacks, it would have been very tough for them going against Ben Roethlisberger and wide receiver Antonio Brown.
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The Jets will hold a special ceremony at halftime Sunday to honor former defensive lineman Marty Lyons, who is being inducted into the team’s Ring of Honor.
Lyons, who now serves as the team’s broadcaster, played for the Jets from 1979-89. The team’s first-round pick in ’79, Lyons had 43 career sacks and became a fan favorite.
“It’s a very humbling honor,” Lyons said, “but it’s an honor that I look back and reflect on everybody that has touched my life, that has been instrumental in my life and I want to share that moment with them. Because if it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be here and I am a perfect example of what the Jets have been telling all the players since they’ve been drafted by the Jets or they’ve come to this organization: “Once a Jet, always a Jet.” And in life you’re only going to get what you put into it. As a player I tried to give everything I had and in the community I tried to give even more. I always thought it was more important to be recognized in the community for something you choose to do, not something you get paid to do. It’s an honor for me to represent all the children from the foundation.”
Lyons is the founder and chairman of the Marty Lyons Foundation, which grants wishes to children diagnosed with terminal or life-threatening diseases.
The 56-year-old is the 13th member of the Jets to be put in the Ring of Honor.
“I tried to give it the best that I could possibly do at any given moment to try to help this organization win,” Lyons said. “As a player, I tried to give it everything that I had and as a person in the community I continue to try to do that.”
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OLB Quinton Coples returned from his ankle injury three weeks ago, but he has been quiet in his return. He has just six tackles and one tackle for a loss this season. With Antwan Barnes lost for the season, Coples could be asked to do more on the outside.
“He hasn’t had the impact on the [stat] sheet or whatever that maybe I thought or we all thought,” coach Rex Ryan said. “But he’s playing pretty good. He’s causing some production for others, I think. He had a couple of hits on the quarterback, especially the first game. This past game wasn’t quite as good but I think he’s doing a good job for us.”
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The Jets announced they signed LB Troy Davis off their practice squad to take the roster spot left open by Kellen Winslow’s suspension.