Jets second-year cornerback Dee Milliner did not practice Wednesday after experiencing some tightness in his left hamstring. Milliner missed three games last year with a hamstring injury.
Injuries have been an issue for Milliner in his young career. He missed all spring last year after shoulder surgery. He missed significant time in training camp with an Achilles injury and then suffered the hamstring injury during the season.
Ryan repeatedly has said he believes all that missed practice time hurt Milliner’s development. Ryan did not sound happy that Milliner is on the sideline again.
“He has to understand that he has to be in extraordinary shape,” Ryan said. “His challenge is to be in world-class shape because we have to have you out there. He needs to be out there. He needs to get work because that’s how he’s going to get better.
“He’s got to step it up because I think he has all the talent in the world.”
Milliner said he hurt the hamstring during Monday’s practice and said he sat out for “precautionary” reasons. He does not believe the injury is serious.
With Milliner down, Ras-I Dowling saw time with the first-team defense at cornerback.
RB Mike Goodson remains a no-show during the Jets’ spring program and it sounds like Goodson is not going to last much longer with the team.
Goodson is recovering from a torn ACL he suffered last October and still has gun and drug charges from an incident last spring hanging over his head. Ryan said he is not even sure how Goodson’s knee rehab is going.
“I don’t know where he is physically,” Ryan said. “We haven’t seen him so I can’t answer that question.”
Goodson’s roster spot could be in serious jeopardy. The team added Chris Johnson and Daryl Richardson this offseason to go along with Chris Ivory and Bilal Powell. It is hard to see Goodson making the team.
OLB Antwan Barnes is still recovering from October knee surgery and Ryan is unsure when he will return.
“It’s slow,” Ryan said of Barnes’ progress. “He’s getting better. We all wish he’d be ready to go. But he did have some different issues with his surgery and things like that. One thing I know about him is he’s going to compete and he’s going to do whatever it takes to get back on that field. Where his situation is I don’t expect him to be out here. Will he be ready for training camp? I’m not sure.”