Torn ACL sidelines Jenkins for the season
Photo credit: Getty Images | Jets nose tackle Kris Jenkins limps off the field with the assistance of two trainers after injuring his left leg in Sunday's loss to the Bills.
Oct. 18: Bills 16, Jets 13
Kris Jenkins
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - Marques Douglas knew something was amiss right away, immediately waving his right hand and motioning for the trainers to come out.
If a stand-up guy like Kris Jenkins was on the Giants Stadium turf writhing in pain, Douglas had a good idea that things weren't looking good for the Jets' massive nose tackle.
"Just playing the game, knowing how things go sometimes," the defensive end said yesterday, "he has too much pride to lay there. So to see him down grabbing his leg, you knew something was wrong."
Something indeed was wrong, and it certainly wasn't the kind of news the Jets wanted to hear.
They suffered a blow larger than Jenkins' 6-4, 370-pound frame, losing their four-time Pro Bowler to a season-ending left knee injury. Jenkins tore his ACL and was placed on injured reserve, ending his season.
It's a crushing loss, one that left the Jets a bit numb knowing just how important their vocal leader is in the grand scheme of things.
No individual can step in and plug the gaping hole, whether it's Sione Pouha, Mike DeVito or Howard Green, who a league source said will be re-signed by the Jets after they waived him Saturday to add wide receiver Danny Woodhead.
Kansas City's Glenn Dorsey and Cleveland's Shaun Rogers also are possibilities, although the source said a trade is unlikely, especially with Tuesday being the trade deadline.
"It's going to be hard to replace Kris," coach Rex Ryan said. "There's not many Kris Jenkins playing in this league. Obviously, his impact is going to be felt . . . I have confidence in these guys, but to think that they are going to come in and play like Kris, that's not realistic. We're all going to have to step up our game to make up for his loss."
Jenkins, a stout run-stuffer who caused disruption in the backfield as well, got caught in a pile of bodies while trying to make a play with just over five minutes left in the second quarter Sunday.
He was fighting off Andy Levitre's block while wrapping up Bills running back Fred Jackson. Shaun Ellis appeared to roll into Jenkins' left knee, and Jenkins stayed on the ground, bringing a collective hush to the fans until they applauded as he limped off with the help of team trainers.
"I have been through the experience once," said Jenkins, who tore his right ACL in 2005 when he was with the Panthers. "You know what that pop is when it happens. It was a little bit different this time, as compared to the first one, because the first time it was just a clean pop, bad position and it went on its own. This time, I don't know what happened. But I know I took a blow to it [and have] a little bit of a bone bruise on top of it. When it happened, I definitely knew that something was wrong."
Jenkins is expected to strengthen the knee during the next two weeks before going under the knife. He said his damaged ACL will be replaced with one of his hamstrings and that the surgery will be performed by Dr. Kenneth D. Montgomery.
Jenkins told Newsday two weeks ago that he contemplated retiring after 2008 because a nagging back injury kept recurring. He isn't ready to call it a career, however, and said he should be ready to go by the time the Jets begin their offseason training program.
"I am just not ready to hang the gloves up yet," he said. "I'll have the family conversation. We'll talk. But as far as me, I feel confident that once I rehab, I'll get myself together and I'll be able to do everything that I can do."
