Looking to shake off some of the rust after a long bye week, coach Rex Ryan had the Jets hitting hard and often at yesterday’s practice — a rarity during the season.
“That was a man’s day today,” Ryan said. “That was a real practice — a lot of fundamental periods, just getting back into hitting and tackling. Really, when you look at it those two years, I want to make sure we do a good job of tackling. I think that’s been a thing where sometimes when you come off the bye week that’s definitely an emphasis would be tackling.”
The Jets have lost the first game after the bye in both of Ryan’s previous seasons.
During the period of practice open to the media, the Jets did a live kickoff drill with players crushing each other with blocks and wrapping up the return men.
Ryan gave the team six days off last week before returning for a light practice Monday. The players have talked about avoiding the letdown they’ve suffered the last two years.
“I think that’s part of the reason today’s practice was so amped up on both sides of the ball,” tight end Dustin Keller said. “Guys were just out there banging. We definitely don’t want a repeat of that. Rex has given us the maximum time off for our bye week, so we all want to come back fresh and we want to show it on Sunday that we have the fresh legs.”
The Bills announced that they will wear all-white uniforms at home Sunday for the first time in 25 years.
The team will also honor former kicker and Super Bowl XXV goat Scott Norwood at the game.
Ryan was asked about NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock saying people in the Jets organization are upset about being scheduled for a Thursday night game in Denver on Nov. 17, just four days after a Sunday night game with the Patriots.
“Never thought of it that way.” Ryan said. “If I said something then it’s, ‘Ryan blasts commissioner.’ I think I’ll avoid that one.”
Ryan said he envisions a larger role for RB Joe McKnight on Sunday. McKnight rushed for 158 yards last year in Buffalo … DT Mike DeVito (knee) and DT Kenrick Ellis (ankle) did not practice. Ryan said he hopes they can both practice today. OLB Calvin Pace (groin), C Nick Mangold (ankle), ILB David Harris (ankle) and CB Isaiah Trufant (hamstring) were limited.