Could it be that the David Harris era is about to begin for the Jets?
Harris, the run-stuffing linebacker from Michigan whom the Jets traded up 16 spots to draft in the second round in April, will take over at middle linebacker on Sunday against the Bills at Giants Stadium.
Harris will take over for Jonathan Vilma, who suffered a knee injury in the Jets’ loss to the Bengals on Sunday and is out indefinitely.
Eric Mangini, being intentionally vague, yesterday wouldn’t confirm what sources have told The Post – that Vilma could be out for the season.
Vilma, who was last available to reporters after Sunday’s game, was not available for comment yesterday, and his agent didn’t return calls or e-mails.
All Mangini said was that Vilma would not practice yesterday. Don’t expect him to be practicing today either. Vilma has undergone tests on the knee and is said to be weighing his options about whether to have season-ending surgery.
“We’re still looking at (Vilma’s injury),” Mangini said. “Like with any injury . . . it’s a matter of what the results are, talking to the doctors and putting together the best plan.”
For the time being, probably for the rest of the season – and possibly beyond – that plan is for Harris to play.
“He’s a very capable guy,” veteran linebacker David Bowens said. “He’s a rookie and teams might see that and try to run at him, but he’s a very composed rookie. He doesn’t seem to get rattled a lot.
“He’s not a dumb rookie; he really knows his stuff.
“I don’t think we’re going to be missing anything with him in there.”
That’s not to say that Vilma, who has played in all 55 games since being drafted by the Jets in the first round of the 2004 NFL Draft, will not be missed.
“Vilma is a great player,” Harris said. “Any time you lose a player like that it’s very hard to fill his shoes. He’s a great team leader. He’s very well respected. He’s been running the defense for four years now.
“It’s a big task for me to full his shoes. It’s been a dream of mine to start an NFL game and the opportunity has arisen, so I’ve got to step up to the plate.”
The Jets believe Harris is ready to do that.
“He’s the leader of the defense now,” fellow rookie starter, cornerback Darrelle Revis, said. “He has to step in for Vilma. He has to be a leader and get the calls in. He’s played a lot he knows what he’s doing in there and he knows how to play his position.”
Bowens said Harris’ habit of picking the brains of the veterans will serve him well.
Bowens was asked for an example of Harris’ composure.
“When being asked a question by the head coach (Mangini) in a team meeting, some guys clam up, he’s just himself all the time,” Bowens said. “That shows a lot of the composure he has already.”
Indeed, Harris, who was the leader of the Michigan defense for four years, said he feels “very comfortable” taking over as a starter.
“Playing linebacker at Michigan, I was used to calling the defensive huddle and when I got here Vilma and (Eric) Barton were calling the plays,” he said. “Now that Vilma’s down, I’ll pick up more responsibility.”
Jets safety Kerry Rhodes, who is closer to Vilma than anyone on the team, was asked how Vilma is doing.
“He’s doing good with what he’s dealt with right now,” Rhodes said. “It’s a tough situation for him. He’s always been the guy, like me, that’s in the game and never comes out of the game.
“He’s a pretty significant piece to our puzzle. It’ll be a big blow (without him playing). We’re so used to him being out there and hearing his voice and knowing where he’s going to be. It’ll be strange, it’ll be different, it’ll be something new.”
Rhodes said playing without Vilma will be “like Ed Reed without Ray Lewis,” referring to the Ravens’ safety and linebacker.
“Not the type of players (they are),” Rhodes said, “but that type of rapport we have with each other.”