CORTLAND — Austin Howard is making his presence felt.
After Howard’s impressive showing in his three quarters of playing time against the Bengals in Friday’s 17-6 loss in the preseason opener, Jets coach Rex Ryan said the offensive lineman has earned the right to be on the field.
“Anyone who can play the way he played is trying to tell you something, and you have to find a way to get him out there,” Ryan said before yesterday’s practice. “I don’t know if that’s competition [for the starting job], but you earn your playing time in this league.
“Anybody who plays like that deserves to play.”
Howard split first team reps at right tackle yesterday with Wayne Hunter, who continues to work his way back into shape after being sidelined for over a week with a back injury. That has allowed Howard, who is more comfortable at left tackle, to spend plenty of time on the right side and get more acclimated to the position.
“If you get an opportunity to go in there and practice it like I have on both sides every day, you become more familiar with the technique on both sides,” Howard said. “For me, it’s definitely the technique aspect of it, and just making sure my foot placement and my hand placement corresponds with the side that I’m on.
“Taking reps on either side is definitely a plus.”
Although Howard has gotten a chance to play on the right side while Hunter is sidelined, offensive coordinator Tony Sparano said splitting reps was more about working Hunter back in gradually than seeing the beginnings of a competition for the starting job.
“We just had Wayne out on a little bit of a pitch count,” Sparano said. “Just getting him out there today was good. It was good to get him back in.”
After practice, Hunter said he was feeling better, and he was hoping to be ready to take the field for the Jets’ second preseason game Saturday at MetLife Stadium against the Giants.
But he said he has noticed Howard’s improvement, especially on the right side, since he has had to sit out and watch.
“He seems more comfortable on the left side,” Hunter said. “Then, as of late, he’s been having good sets on the right side. He’s doing both really well. … His run blocking is coming along. We saw the game film this morning, and he’s getting stronger on his run blocks. There’s a lot more pros and cons to him at this point.”
Even with the positive words from all sides after his performance through the first portion of training camp, Howard is only focused on not letting up through the rest of the preseason and into the Jets’ season opener at home against the Bills on Sept. 9.
“I haven’t really gained anything yet,” Howard said. “My reward will be sitting here the day of the Bills game active. That’s the ultimate goal for all of us right now.
“You hear positives, and that’s good to hear, but they can all go out the window and mean absolutely nothing if you don’t end up making the team. I’m looking long-term, and hoping to keep being consistent and let things work out as they may.”