NFL

Patience paid off for Jets’ Burress in opener

Plaxico Burress was shut out for most of Sunday’s game vs. Dallas, but the Jets wide receiver was reassured by both quarterback Mark Sanchez and fellow wide receiver Derrick Mason that he’d get his chances. Burress stayed focused.

After waiting almost three years to play in another NFL game, waiting nearly three quarters for his first catch wasn’t so bad.

Burress never let frustration creep in, and when he finally broke through over the game’s final 16 minutes, it was worth the wait: Four catches for 72 yards and a touchdown. He gave his young son, Elijah, the ball he caught for the touchdown.

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“There’s no reason to get bent out of shape if you haven’t been thrown the ball in the first or second quarter,” said Burress, who practiced yesterday despite a sore ankle. “(Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer) and Mark are trying to do the best job possible. We have a lot of playmakers; everyone’s going to get touches.”

Burress hadn’t played since 2008, having spent 20 months behind bars on a weapons charge. Sunday’s return to the field was emotionally charged for him, and Sanchez came over to reassure both Burress and Mason.

“They’re gamers, they’re competitive,” said Sanchez. “I made a point to just go over and tell them both ‘Hang with me and I’ll get you the rock. Don’t worry; just keep running the routes, stay sharp. Trust me: I’ll throw you the ball.”’

Turns out Sanchez’s words weren’t needed.

“I just said, ‘Hey, just relax. Everything is going to be OK.’ He was probably a little shocked at me saying that,” said Burress, whose first big play came with his Jets down 24-10 in the fourth quarter, and he never even touched the ball.

On 2nd-and-11 from the Jets’ 15, Burress de-cleated — and injured — Dallas cornerback Mike Jenkins with a block to spring Santonio Holmes for a 28-yard gain. Then, a play after failing to come back for a Sanchez pass and seeing it batted away for an incompletion, Burress snared a 26-yard touchdown to help spark the comeback.

“I was just staying patient. I’ve been in games like that; you just keep working. It’ll come and, as you can see, it did,” said Burress. “We’ll just keep fighting, keep working for the quarterback and pretty soon he’ll find us.”

The same could be said for Burress finding his timing. Rex Ryan said he expects Burress to be fine Sunday vs. Jacksonville, and he’ll be needed against a stout run defense that held Titans star Chris Johnson to 24 yards in Week 1.

“You want to win all your home games,” said Burress. “This game is critical for us to get.”