CORTLAND — An unexpected position battle popped up at the first practice of Jets training camp yesterday: Matt Slauson vs. Vlad Ducasse for the starting left guard job.
Slauson has been the starter for the past two years, but offseason shoulder surgery kept him out of much of the spring practices, allowing Ducasse to get some reps and impress the coaches.
“Absolutely, I think it will be a good competition,” coach Rex Ryan said. “Vlad’s had a tremendous offseason. The fact that Matt unfortunately had the [shoulder] surgery, that allowed Vlad to get some work with the [first string]. We like what he did in the spring. That’s some competition right there, which I think is good.”
The two battled in training camp two years ago for the job and Slauson prevailed over Ducasse, a 2010 second-round pick. Slauson was surprised yesterday when the coaches told him he and Ducasse would be splitting the reps with the first team.
“It’s the first day of camp,” Slauson said. “I can’t read into it that much. Vlad has been the guy all spring. Obviously, I’ve got to approach it like a competition. I don’t know if there is a real one there, but I have to look at it like that because the second I don’t, I might lose it.”
Slauson also worked at right tackle, somewhere he has not played since college.
* Newly acquired tackle Jeff Otah must pass a physical by Tuesday or the trade the Jets made for him last week with the Panthers will be nullified.
Otah, who worked with Jets trainers on the sideline yesterday, did not exactly sound confident when asked if he thinks he can pass the physical in time.
“I don’t know,” he said. “I’m just kind of going and doing what they tell me right now. I’m doing my best.”
The Jets hoped Otah could compete with Wayne Hunter for the starting right tackle job, but Otah said he re-injured his knee in OTAs with the Panthers and it has not recovered. Injuries have limited the 2008 first-round pick to 29 games in four seasons.
* Rookie wide receiver Stephen Hill made the play of the day, diving to pull in a 40-yard pass from quarterback Mark Sanchez that was tipped by cornerback Darrelle Revis.
Revis was sure to let the second-round pick know not to expect a catch against him again.
“He was just saying, ‘Good catch, next time you ain’t gonna get it,’ ” Hill said.
Hill later turned heads when he appeared to knock Revis to the ground throwing a block. Hill said Revis was off balance when he hit him.
* Safety LaRon Landry (foot) did not practice. Ryan said the plan is for Landry to practice every third day so he is not rushed back. … Rookie lineman Robert Griffin left practice with an undisclosed injury, but it did not look serious.
—Additional reporting by Tim Bontemps and Steve Serby