NFL

Ankle keeps Plaxico out of Jets practice

Plaxico Burress has spent two years waiting for the day he could put a helmet and shoulder pads on again. He’ll have to wait a few more days.

The Jets wide receiver “tweaked” his left ankle while running routes with teammate Santonio Holmes on Wednesday. Both the Jets and Burress said it is nothing more serious than some swelling, but he could not practice yesterday, which was supposed to be his first session with the team. He is expected to miss 1-2 days.

“It’s a little frustrating, but with everything I’ve been through I’ve just learned so much patience,” said Burress, who served 21 months in prison for accidentally shooting himself in the leg in a Manhattan nightclub. “I’ll just let everything take its course. Nobody wants to get out there more than me.”

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Burress signed with the Jets on Sunday but was not permitted to practice with the team until yesterday after the new collective bargaining agreement was ratified. He has been watching practice all week. The 33-year-old receiver said he was running routes “against air” when he rolled his ankle.

Burress said he could practice, but the team wanted to be cautious. Coach Rex Ryan said even when the ankle heals, the Jets are going to be cautious with Burress since he has not played in nearly three years.

“We’re going to be smart,” Ryan said. “We’re trying to get him ready for [the season opener against] Dallas. [The first preseason game in] Houston, I don’t care. We’re getting him ready for the regular season. And we’ll approach it — this may be a little setback, but we’re not going to press this guy. We’re not going to extend him that much initially for sure. And now with this little ankle, my job is to get him there on opening night 100 percent. That’s what we’ll do.”

The Jets signed the former Giants’ Super Bowl star to a one-year, $3.017 million deal. Critics have pointed to his age (he turns 34 this month) and his time away as reasons this signing won’t work out. Burress is eager to show he still has it.

“I think everybody is going to be in for a surprise when I do get back out there and I just can’t wait to see what everybody’s going to be saying in a few days,” Burress said. “I think everybody’s going to change their tune up.”

Burress said he expects no drop-off in his skills. He thinks he can do more now.

“My projection is I’ll be a little better,” he said. “Because I’m hungry. I’m pretty much as healthy as I’ve been in a long time. I’m in a new place with fresh faces.”

When he played for the Giants, Burress had a problem with his right ankle tendon. Burress emphasized this injury is no big deal, but he knows people will be disappointed he’s not ready to practice. He said if this happened in the regular season, he could play.

“It’s nothing serious,” Burress said. “I know it’s going to be one of those things where, to everybody else on the outside it’s going to be this huge thing, but it’s just a little swelling.”

Missed practice time won’t hurt, Burress said.

“I’ve had success without being on the practice field,” Burress said. “I understand this game from a mental standpoint. I think my football knowledge is high. I understand the speed and where I need to be. This gives me more time to absorb the offense and the more that I know the faster I can play.”

brian.costello@nypost.com