NFL

Coles may receive chance with Jets

As Rex Ryan promised they would at the March NFL meetings, the Jets finally spoke to wide receiver Laveranues Coles this week about a possible return.

But a source close to the situation described the Jets’ interest as minimal and emphasized that “nothing is anywhere close to imminent.”

Coles, 32, has expressed interest in coming back to the Jets after one disappointing season with the Bengals that ended in him being released in early March.

The Jets don’t appear to have room for Coles with Santonio Holmes, Braylon Edwards and Jerricho Cotchery on the roster, but Holmes is suspended for the first four regular-season games and the Jets are open to Coles as a fallback option.

The Jets still are bound by the NFL’s “Final Four” restrictions on signing unrestricted free agents, but Coles is fair game for Gang Green because he was released by another team.

*

Despite tepid comments from general manager Mike Tannenbaum earlier this week, Ryan said the Jets remain interested in free-agent outside linebacker Adalius Thomas.

“We’ll always listen to anything,” Ryan said. “We’ll definitely consider him.”

Ryan, though, admitted the Jets are waiting to let the market for Thomas establish itself before pursuing him further.

*

As expected, second-round pick Vladimir Ducasse lined up at left guard from the outset of the first practice of rookie minicamp yesterday.

Ducasse, an offensive tackle at UMass, is considered the early favorite to replace nine-time Pro Bowl pick Alan Faneca at left guard after the veteran was unceremoniously cut last week.

Ducasse was whistled for a false start during the morning practice, but Ryan praised the 6-foot-5, 330-pound Haiti native for driving a defender 10 yards off the ball on an earlier running play.

*

First-round pick Kyle Wilson had a quiet first day, but the Boise State cornerback still caught Ryan’s eye with his tight coverage in pass drills.

“When you draft a corner, you’re excited and you want to see him go out there one-on-one,” Ryan said. “He looked pretty good over there.”

*

Ryan singled out a handful of the 20 tryout players after yesterday’s first rookie workout, helping their chances of earning an invitation to training camp.

Ryan offered praise for 6-foot-4, 250-pound Jeff Cumberland, a tight end with 4.4-second speed who had several nice catches; linebackers Cory Reamer from Alabama and Kevin Basped from Nevada; and Oklahoma corner Brian Jackson, even though Jackson was sidelined early by a hamstring strain.

*

The Jets axed tryout player Marlon Lucky, a decorated running back from Nebraska, after just one workout yesterday.