The Jets have not publicly ruled injured receiver Jerricho Cotchery out for Sunday’s game, but according to sources, he won’t play.
In fact, that the Jets are set to sign receiver Patrick Turner off the practice squad is an indication they’re preparing to play the next two games without Cotchery, who suffered a partial tear of his left groin last Sunday.
Cotchery said yesterday that he lightly jogged for the first time this week. He called that “progress,” and said he feels a lot better than he did Sunday and Monday.
But, he said, he hasn’t done any position work.
“That’s the final exam,” Cotchery said. “You’ve got to be able to do some position stuff before you go out there on Sunday. You can’t go from light jogging to on the field Sunday.”
Cotchery said being able to jog yesterday was “a huge step” considering the pain he was in earlier in the week.
Though the Jets haven’t announced the signing of Turner, they did waive defensive tackle Jarron Gilbert, leaving an open roster spot.
“If the opportunity comes open I’ll be ready,” Turner said.
“I feel pretty good about Patrick Turner,” coach Rex Ryan said.
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In other injury news, Ryan ruled CB Dwight Lowery
out for the game with a concussion. It’s not likely that CB Marquice Cole
(hamstring) will play, either.
However, starting LG Matt Slauson
(right knee) and S Eric Smith
(right ankle) returned to practice and were limited, but will play Sunday.
Special teams coordinator Mike Westhoff
said because his special teams will be short manpower without Lowery and Cole, he’ll use starting CBs Darrelle Revis
and Antonio Cromartie
in some limited roles.
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Westhoff sent K Nick Folk
, P Steve Weatherford
and long snapper Tanner Purdum
to New Meadowlands Stadium after practice to work on the winds there.
Folk said the visit showed them similar wind patterns to their last home game against the Packers, with wind coming on through the sides of the stadium and pushing toward the visitor’s sideline. Folk said “you can use it to your advantage” knowing the patterns.
Westhoff said Folk made 20-of-22 at the stadium. Folk said he made one as long as 58 yards.
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Texans QB Matt Schaub
returned from a night in the hospital with an injury to the bursa sac in his right knee to practice yesterday and is expected to start against the Jets on Sunday, according to Houston coach Gary Kubiak
.
Schaub, who went to the hospital Tuesday and stayed overnight, took about half the snaps in practice yesterday. He ranks fifth in the AFC in completion percentage (64.2) and yards passing (2,320). Dan Orlovsky
of Shelton, Conn., is Schaub’s backup and Matt Leinart
is next on the depth chart..