With rookie first-round pick Dee Milliner ruled out of Sunday’s game in Tennessee, the Jets will turn to Darrin Walls and Kyle Wilson to pick up the slack. Though Walls will see a lot of action at corner, Wilson will have to handle not only playing in the slot, but his own temper as well.
Wilson came unglued last Sunday against Buffalo, losing his cool and committing penalties on four consecutive snaps before coach Rex Ryan pulled him.
After defensive coordinator Dennis Thurman took him aside this week and preached patience, Milliner’s hamstring injury has left the Jets little choice but to play Wilson as the nickel and hope he learned from his meltdown.
“Obviously it’s just something I’ve got to learn from,” Wilson said Friday, speaking about his tantrum when he got benched for the rest of that series and the next. “I’m a physical guy and I’ve just got to learn from it, that’s pretty much it.”
Thurman talked to him about keeping his emotions in check.
“What he was getting at was being smart, I don’t want to hurt the team in any way, and if something happens just understand there will be a time and place for it.’’
Milliner’s hamstring injury is just the latest health woe to befall the ninth overall pick. He had five surgeries at Alabama, an Achilles injury that cost him two preseason games, and got benched after a terrible first quarter in the Week 2 loss at New England.
“Dee thinks he can play. He never practiced so he’s not playing,’’ Ryan said.
Now, Milliner’s injury moves Walls up the depth chart.
“I think it’s pretty much the same [role] as it is every week. Me and Kyle will be ready if our name gets called,’’ Walls said. “We’re going to every week we do turnover circuits and trying to get turnovers. We realized that we haven’t got that many, so our focus a little bit has been to try to strip a ball, and if we have opportunities to make an interception to make them.’’
Ryan was noncommittal about whether Wilson or Walls would start in the Jets’ base defense, because that would be dependent on the Titans’ personnel groupings. But he was clear the 5-foot-10 Wilson would play inside, because he has shown the needed agility to work there, while the six-foot Walls would play on the outside.
“Kyle’s playing in the slot, so that’s why [he’s starting]. If they go to three wides, Kyle will play in the slot, so that’s pretty much it. All the guys will play. Those two guys will play. The only guy that plays every snap is [Antonio Cromartie] … because he’s a great player,’’ Ryan said.
“Walls always [has] been an outside corner and strictly an outside corner, where you have Kyle to do both and obviously [Isaiah] Trufant is a slot corner as well and Ellis [Lankster] can play in there.
“But, it’s tough. It’s a different world in there. You’ve got to be able to play in space and sometimes the guys that are your taller corners don’t do particularly well in there.’’
Walls wasn’t quite accurate about his role being the same; it has gradually expanded. After not playing a defensive snap in the opener, the third-year pro played 10 in Week 2 when Milliner struggled and a season-high 28 Sunday.
Walls likely will play more against the Titans, and Wilson said he’s confident Walls can handle the increased action.
“He’s been playing awesome for awhile,” Wilson said. “ He came in last year. He played well for us. He’s done some good things.
“Whatever they ask me to do. It’s my job to start to play however they want me to play.’’