NFL

Sheldon Richardson rumbles for rushing TD

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Rex Ryan borrowed a page from the playbook of the 1985 Bears.

The Jets coach put defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson in the backfield to score a 1-yard touchdown in the third quarter of Sunday’s 30-20 loss to the Panthers.

It was shades of Chicago’s William “Refrigerator” Perry, who scored three touchdowns during the 1985 regular season and then another in the Super Bowl, is familiar to Ryan because his father, Buddy, was the defensive coordinator of that Bears team.

Richardson has appeared on offense twice previously this season, but had not gotten the ball. On Sunday, the Jets gave him the ball on first-and-goal from the 2, but he was stopped on the 1. They gave it to him again and he scored the touchdown to cut the Panthers’ lead to 16-13.

“We’ve been working it and thinking that they shouldn’t be able to deny that guy down there,” Ryan said. “We just kept running it. We thought we scored the first time, but it was a little short.”

The normally talkative rookie did not have much to say after the loss.

“It’s a touchdown,” Richardson said. “It is what it is. Doesn’t mean nothing. We lost.”

Richardson said he had not scored since high school when he played offense. He said he approached the coaches at the beginning of the season and offered to play offense if they thought it could help the team.

The rookie had a strong game on defense, stopping Cam Newton short on a third-down scramble in the first half. Richardson is one of the leading candidates for Defensive Rookie of the Year. Maybe now he can make a case for consideration for the offensive award, too.

After being listed as questionable, cornerback Antonio Cromartie was cleared by doctors to play after suffering a concussion last week. Cromartie said he was cleared about 2 ½ hours before kickoff after the doctors watched him warm up.

Cromartie played well and said he did not experience any headaches. He also said the hip injury that has plagued him all year felt much better.

“Honestly, this is the best I’ve felt,” Cromartie said. “I’m glad with the way I’m feeling right now. … I didn’t get any passes thrown to my side so you can’t tell, but this is the best I’ve felt physically the whole entire season, running around and being able to cut on my hip.”

Geno Smith’s five interceptions for touchdowns ties the team record, according to Elias Sports Bureau. Joe Namath set the mark in 1967. … Defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson was injured and left the game briefly in the first half. Wilkerson said someone fell on his left wrist, which was already bothering him. Wilkerson said he is fine.