The legend of Stephen Hill grows by the day.
The Jets rookie wide receiver had two touchdowns in his debut Sunday, and coach Rex Ryan revealed he was sick during the game.
“He wasn’t feeling good,” Ryan said. “He actually got sick a couple of times on the sideline. [He] showed that toughness that we knew he had. That’s kind of what we’ve been seeing through the mini-camps, is that he’s ahead of where most rookie receivers are.”
The big question about Hill around the Draft was could he adjust to an NFL offense after playing in a triple-option attack at Georgia Tech.
Ryan said that when the Jets drafted Hill, wide receivers coach Sanjay Lal assured Ryan and general manager Mike Tannenbaum that Hill would be “ready for Buffalo.” After Sunday’s game, Lal made sure to find Tannenbaum and remind him of his promise.
“It is tough in this league to come in, the speed, the coverages, the techniques are tough,” Ryan said. “It is impressive that he was able to have that kind of day.”
* Bills defensive end Mario Williams complained after the game that Jets tackle Austin Howard was putting his hands in Williams’ face and the replacement refs did not call it. Ryan said after watching the game again that Williams is mistaken.
“Mario Williams is a great football player,” Ryan said. “There’s no question. He’s a tremendous player, but I disagree with him on [that].”
* Ryan did not have updates on OLB Bryan Thomas or WR Patrick Turner, who both suffered hamstring injuries. … FB John Conner said he tweaked his MCL in the game but was fitted for a brace and is fine. … The Jets allowed 390 total yards by the Bills, the same amount they gave up in last year’s opener to the Cowboys. Of course, most of those Buffalo yards came when the game was already lopsided. … Ryan on ESPN Radio talking about getting run into on the sideline by Bills TE Scott Chandler: “Even Muhammad Ali got knocked down before.”