Jets' McKnight could play both ways

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - Remember when Joe McKnight couldn't do anything right? Now the rookie running back is impressing his coach with his skills - on both sides of the ball.

Rex Ryan said McKnight is so athletic and quick, he easily could play cornerback.

"I don't think there's any doubt when you see him," Ryan said of the fourth-round draft pick, who carried the ball four times for 12 yards and briefly played on special teams in his first NFL game Sunday against Buffalo. " Dennis Thurman, I think, would love to have that opportunity to coach him. When we took him out of, I had a coach tell me he was the best receiver and the best corner on their campus the day he showed up. So he's got that kind of athleticism."

McKnight landed in Ryan's doghouse after he threw up during rookie camp, failed his conditioning run before training camp and fumbled three times during the postseason. He was inactive for the first three games of the season.

When asked Mondayif he seriously would consider playing McKnight at corner, Ryan said: "Yes. Why not? It's been done. Guys can play both ways. [New England's] Troy Brown was one. I think Cleveland had a guy with a receiver jersey last year [on defense]. It's been done. We're pretty set now at corner, but it just shows you. He'll go out there now and compete. When our guys are running routes against him, he's competing like crazy out there. You see some natural corner skills."

Ellis has MRI

Defensive end Shaun Ellis had an MRI on his sprained left knee, said Ryan, who didn't appear worried about the results. "We don't anticipate any ligament damage,'' he said, "so hopefully, he'll be fine."

Extra points

The Jets released WRs David Clowney and Patrick Turner to make room for Santonio Holmes on the roster. They also re-signed DT Howard Green.