It may not be as painful as his broken leg, but Leon Washington is hurting as he watches the Jets’ playoff push from his home.
“It’s tough,” the Jets’ injured all-purpose back said last night after attending Seton Hall’s 80-73 loss to Syracuse at the Prudential Center in Newark. “The toughest thing about it is that you feel like you’re kind of leaving your teammates out to dry, because there’s so many things I can do on the field to help us win games, and I’m unable to do it.
“But this is part of the game, it’s part of life, and there’s nothing I can do now but rehab well and get ready for 2010.”
Washington, who broke his right fibula against the Raiders Oct. 25, said he will be in attendance for Sunday night’s must-win game against the Bengals — the first time he will be at a game since he was injured. He was using crutches last night but said he’d be off them in two weeks and that his rehab is progressing.
“It’s feeling great. Rehab’s going well. Doctors have said I’m doing well, so I’m just looking forward to getting back out on the football field.
“I talked to the doctor’s today, and they expect when the season comes around, especially in training camp, I should be 100 percent.”
And while Washington won’t be in the backfield for the rest of this season, Washington still thinks Gang Green has plenty of gas left in the tank if they make it into the playoffs.
“This is a big opportunity for us, so we just need to keep pushing,” he said. “I think if we get to the playoffs, we’ll be a dangerous team to face.”