Jets wideout Stephen Hill’s sorry sophomore season ended the same way his first season did: Sidelined with a knee injury.
The receiver was put on season-ending injured reserve Friday due to what was only described as “swelling.” Even though the whole situation was shrouded in vagaries — no diagnosis given, no treatment delineated, even which knee was unclear — one thing is painfully obvious: Hill’s Jets tenure has been a frustrating one.
“This young man’s been battling the whole year,” coach Rex Ryan said. “He’s had some swelling in his knees. He’d come back, he’d rehab, get back; but it just seemed like almost any time he’d do a football-related activity … his knees would swell.
“Obviously, there are frustrations from his point, from everybody’s point, because we’re waiting for him to take the next step … and it just hasn’t happened.
“Hopefully with this, we’ll get him back and get him healthy and be ready to roll next season. The kid worked his tail off. He was committed in the training room, he’d do everything that was asked of him. It’s just one of those things. He just wasn’t able to get to where he could really be productive out there.’’
Hill — replaced on the roster by Saalim Hakim — finished the season with 21 catches for 252 yards, including just one grab in his last four games played. He was hindered by swollen knees that robbed him of his explosion coming out of cuts and his 4.2 40-yard dash speed.
“It kind of did a little bit, especially later on in the year, doing a lot of pounding on it. It did a good amount later on, but I just have to eat that one and move on,’’ said Hill, who added it was galling to have his performance hindered by his knee.
“It could feel like that, but not that bad. I’m just making sure I get my knee right for my later on in my career. It does hurt, because you want to be out there with the guys. But I’m just thinking about this positively so I can move on.’’
Gang Green invested heavily in Hill, and has gotten a poor return. They moved up in the second round to take him 43rd overall, two spots ahead of Alshon Jeffery, who was taken by the Bears. Jeffery has become a star, with 75 catches, 1,193 yards and six touchdowns, while Hill is a question mark.
Jets general manager John Idzik pulled Hill aside and told him to remain focused in meetings and to keep absorbing knowledge because “we have a plan for you.” Hill said his left knee has bothered him all season, but also said it was the same knee as last year, when he suffered a sprained LCL in his right knee and had December surgery, missing the last three games. Ryan said it wasn’t one knee, but both.
“I don’t know what the extent is. I know the young man’s really frustrated because it was one knee and then the other knee. He just wasn’t right for the last couple weeks. He got through it, he could participate, but he just wasn’t the same guy. This wasn’t the guy we drafted that ran the 4.2 in the 40,’’ said Ryan, who didn’t rule out Hill needing surgery.
“Is surgery an option? I’m not sure. Certainly, I’d think that’s a possibility.’’
For his part, Hill was more hopeful.
“Oh, no, that’s what we’re definitely preventing. No surgery was talked about right now,’’ Hill said. “There’s no pain, just irritation, stiffness. That’s the reason I’m not getting out of my breaks like I’m supposed to. … It’s just how things went. I did want to go down the field more and catch more deep balks. But things happen. That’s the way the game goes.’’