Mangold doing what he can to play Sunday

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Nick Mangold isn't quite ready to sit this one out just yet.

The Jets' All-Pro center, who's nursing a high right ankle sprain suffered in last Sunday's win over the Jaguars, said Wednesday that he's feeling better and is hopeful he'll play when the Jets square off against the Raiders in Oakland on Sunday.

"That's what I'm working toward," said Mangold, who didn't practice. "Whether or not that happens, I don't know. But that would be my goal."

Mangold was still sporting a walking boot, but had shed the crutches he had been using since Sunday. He's able to put some weight on the ankle, though he's experiencing some pain. So making sure he's sufficiently healed is going to be paramount in the team's eyes.

"You don't want anything lingering and I think that's the fear of the injury, and trying to rush back before it's ready," Mangold said. "I'm going to make sure it's ready, but I'm going to make sure it's ready as soon as possible."

Mangold, who's been helping undrafted free agent Colin Baxter get ready if he can't play, said he hasn't talked about a timeline with the trainers. It's more of a day-to-day thing and he'll continue to get treatment, doing as much as he can to be on the field with his teammates in Oakland.

However, he's more optimistic than his coach is.

"His status hasn't changed at all," Rex Ryan said. "He's off crutches, which is a good sign. But I just think we'll see. I'll never say never, but I don't see it happening this week."

Mangold has played in 82 consecutive regular-season games, a number that he's well aware of. Still, he made it clear that's not going factor into the equation.

"I'm no Favrey," he cracked, referring to Brett Favre, "but 82 is a special thing and I'm proud of that. But I'm not going to put myself or put the team in detriment over a number. That's no concern to me."

That doesn't mean he's not going to do what he can to see if he can give it a go versus the Raiders.

"I'm preparing to play Sunday," he said. "If the ankle doesn't let me, then I've prepared well and just won't let me do it. That's my mind-set everyday, every week, that I'm going to be out there."