CORTLAND — It’s unclear whether Calvin Pryor will play in the Jets’ preseason opener Thursday, and coach Rex Ryan even seemed uncertain whether the highly touted first-round pick had even been cleared for contact. But Pryor practiced in a limited role Monday after passing concussion protocols and is progressing toward finally getting out on the field for Gang Green.
“I feel a little rusty,’’ Pryor said after practice, for which a team spokesman said he was cleared for contact. “I feel a little rusty, but it was good to be back in there with the guys, getting in, making some of the checks, making sure you’re on top of everything.
“I think I’ll be fine from here on out. Just keep checking in with the doctors, making sure I’m good to go, so I won’t have a minor setback.’’
Pryor — who had collided with the returner while blocking in a kickoff-return drill on the Jets’ first day in pads, and been out since July 26 with a concussion — started practice Monday in the red, no-contact jersey. But he moved into the “gradual return to practice and play” phase of the NFL’s concussion protocol, shedding the jersey and eventually got some full-team reps with the third-team defense.
“He was out there, but he’s still in that protocol. Will he play in the game? I don’t know. I’m not sure. But we’ll let him go through those steps, and we’ll see,’’ Ryan said. “When I saw him out there, he started in a red jersey and all of a sudden he had the red jersey off, so hopefully that’s a positive sign that it’s just a matter of time until he’s cleared for physical contact.’’
When asked whether Pryor still had not been cleared for contact, Ryan said: “That’s my understanding. I think he’s progressing, he’s definitely progressing. I hope he makes the game, but we’ll see.’’ Later the Jets spokesman said Ryan merely misspoke about whether he’d been cleared.
Playing Thursday against the Colts is far more up in the air.
“I have no idea. Right now we are taking it day by day,’’ said Pryor, who was listed on the second team in the Jets’ initial depth chart Monday behind Dawan Landry and Antonio Allen, but is projected as an eventual starter. And with his prized rookie having already missed eight days of practice, Ryan didn’t sound inclined to treat him with kid gloves or have him miss any more.
“If he’s cleared and we feel good about that and he’s not in any more risk, throw him out there,’’ Ryan said. “It might not be with the ones, but he needs to get work. And as soon as he’s ready to go we’re going to put him out there.’’
For his part, Pryor admitted being rusty but has been trying to get back on the right track — with his head, at least.
“Just making sure I’m attentive in all the meeting. Making sure I ask questions to all my coaches and my teammates, just get my mental reps. I’m not out there physically but I can still be there mentally,’’ Pryor said. “It’s important I keep asking questions and making sure I’m on top of everything.’’
“If you sit in a classroom and all you’re doing is taking notes, that’s great and some people can do it, but if you’re watching guys play and you’re not getting to, [it’s not the same],’’ Ryan said.
“We always stress take in the mental reps, all that stuff, but there’s nothing like getting out there yourself and going through it. There’s some guys that that’s the way that they do learn — they have to do it. So it doesn’t surprise me that he’d feel a little behind or rusty if you will.’’
Ryan credited Seattle’s hard-hitting safeties as the key to the Seahawks’ Super Bowl win, and after watching their impact, the Jets used the 18th-overall pick on the Louisville star to replicate those tooth-rattling, arm-shortening hits. And Pryor vows the concussion won’t change him as a player or curb him as a hitter.
“Not at all,’’ Pryor laughed. “I’m still going to be aggressive, play football how I know how to play football.’’