The Stephen Hill watch is on.
Will the third-year wide receiver start again this season? Will he be relegated to spot duty? Would the Jets give up on the 2012 second-round pick and cut him?
If you listen to offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg, the team still believes Hill can improve this year.
“I was pleased with his progress [last year] up until he got nicked and then he got nicked again,” Mornhinweg said. “This year he was even more impressive in the offseason and through training camp, with a few exceptions. There were a couple of days there. So, he’s coming along. And in many cases, this is what happens, at all positions, but especially at the receiver position, that third year they make a pretty good jump. That’s what we’re looking for there.”
The Jets have not found an answer to who will start opposite Eric Decker at the second receiver spot. Hill has the most potential, but remains inconsistent. David Nelson is the most consistent, but has a lower ceiling.
Mornhinweg said he is not frustrated with Hill, who has just one catch in the first two preseason games.
“We’re just looking for him to continue to progress and he has had a fine camp,” Mornhinweg said. “Now look, there’s been some ups and downs there, certainly for all of us, but he’s been impressive. Now we’re looking for that consistency.”
Cornerback Darrin Walls and safety Calvin Pryor practiced with the first string Thursday and will start Friday against the Giants. Walls had an interception last week and has played with the starters some this week in practice.
“You know (Pryor) is ready for it,” Rex Ryan said. “You saw the game as well as I have, we’ve seen practices. It was more a matter of time. He’s going to be there. And we’ve got a lot of good safeties — we’ll rotate guys in there. But Calvin’s a guy that we’re excited about seeing play with the ones.
Asked why Walls was getting the nod, Ryan answered: “I thought Ellis [Lankster] played well this past game, but it’s another opportunity to let us see some guys.’’
Cornerback Dimitri Patterson didn’t take part in team drills, just running and doing light work on the side.
The Jets announced a crowd of over 11,000 for Family Night at Hofstra. It was a homecoming for offensive lineman Willie Colon, who played at Hofstra but doesn’t have his No. 77 retired there – something he was teased about.
“I kept getting heckled why my name and number isn’t up there,’’ said Colon, looking forward to Friday’s Snoopy Bowl. “At the end of the day that’s our house and we consider it our house. Only one way to solve it and that’s to win, beat them.”
Not shockingly, Colon was well aware of running back Andre Williams’ comments that the Giants are New York’s real team.
“We’ll answer all his remarks [Friday],’’ Colon said. “That’s why I’ve got Snacks [Damon Harrison] and a top defense, to have that conversation with him.’’
OLB Antwan Barnes remains on the PUP list while recovering from knee surgery he underwent in October. It is beginning to look as if Barnes may start the season on the PUP list, which would mean he would miss the first few games.
“There is still a possibility, we’ll see,” Ryan said. “But I have just been encouraged by looking out there. He’s working awful hard. I know that he wants to be ready to go opening day. Is that a real possibility? I’m not sure, but I can tell you this, he’s working hard and he’s way, way, way further along than he was, I remember him in mini-camp. So I have been encouraged with him.”