Of all the Jets listed on Wednesday’s injury report, the most indispensable player was center Nick Mangold, who appeared on the report with a wrist injury and was limited at practice.
The eighth-year center from Ohio State has been a rock in the middle of the Jets offensive line since he was drafted in 2006, playing in 121 of 123 games, with the two missed games coming because of a high ankle sprain.
Despite Mangold being listed on the injury report, he said it was more of a precaution than anything else.
“Just wear and tear over the season,” he said. “Nothing major that I’m concerned about. I just need to give it a little bit of time to calm down after the game.”
The last time Mangold missed time with an injury, September 2011, third-string center Colin Baxter was plugged in and the offensive line collapsed in road losses to the Raiders and Ravens.
The line’s low point came in Baltimore, where quarterback Mark Sanchez lost three fumbles, with two returned for touchdowns.
Mangold expects to play, but just in case the injury ends up worsening, his backup, Caleb Schlauderaff, said he is ready to step in.
“I try to prepare every week,” Schlauderaff told The Post. “You ask any of the backups — you prepare every week like you’re the starter. You take the mental reps, you don’t always get the physical reps.
“Nick’s one of the better centers in the league, and I’ve been lucky to learn from him for a while. I try to do the same things that Nick does.”
Mangold sitting out at practice gave him an opportunity to watch struggling quarterback Geno Smith take practice reps.
“He was throwing it really well,” Mangold said. “I’m excited to see that, excited to see it sling it around a little bit. Hopefully we can carry that into tomorrow and the rest of the week.”