How acupuncture is helping Chris Ivory

Chris Ivory embraces the pain. Twice a week, the running back gets acupuncture treatment, a practice he adopted after being traded to the Jets in 2013. So far, so good.

"It is painful,'' Ivory said Thursday of the traditional Chinese medical treatment, which involves inserting thin needles into the skin. "I don't want to say I'm used to the pain, but I am able to deal with the pain better than I was before.''

Ivory initially was skeptical about the procedure, but "it has helped me so far.'' He's run for 643 yards and six touchdowns and is on pace to eclipse his career high in touches. After 198 carries in 2014, he's at 156 with seven games to go. But the Jets are mindful of his workload.

"You go into the game with a specific number,'' Todd Bowles said, "but if he's rolling, you keep feeding him.''

Fitzpatrick a go

As expected, Ryan Fitzpatrick will start Sunday in Houston, "barring a setback,'' Bowles said. After not practicing for two days following thumb surgery, he was a full participant Thursday.

So how did he look?

"Pretty good,'' offensive coordinator Chan Gailey said. "To be honest with you, he looked like last week. That was good. He took snaps, did everything.''

Jet streams

DT Sheldon Richardson (hamstring), S Dion Bailey (ankle) and CB Dee Milliner (illness) did not practice, but everyone else practiced fully. Milliner has had "a high temperature'' for two days and was sent home, Bowles said . . . Antonio Cromartie (quadriceps) will return kicks and play cornerback if he's "full go'' . . . CB Kevin Short was signed to the practice squad and LB Quanterus Smith was released.