Mangold's playing streak will end

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Nick Mangold's impressive streak finally will come to an end.

After playing in 82 straight games, the Jets center won't fly to Oakland for Sunday's game against the Raiders because of a high ankle sprain. The news came as little surprise, given Mangold's "doubtful" status on the injury report all week and his lack of activity during practice Friday.

Even though it's "not the fun thing," he said he understands it's the right thing to do. "It's going to be tough, but you can't argue with the body," said Mangold, who has played in every game since he was drafted in the first round in 2006.

He added, "We'll put it to rest and start over, I guess."

Coach Rex Ryan said he wasn't sure if the same decision would have been made had the team been scheduled to play at home or within driving distance, "but the fact we are traveling that far, I don't think that's good with the swelling and everything else."

"He's just not ready," the coach said of Mangold, who merely mimicked offensive line calls during Friday's practice. "It's as simple as that. He's doing really well, but a high ankle sprain, going against these guys, traveling across country, it's not in his best interest . . . When you play 82 straight games, you're going to try to do whatever you can to keep that going. He doesn't know any different. I appreciate his toughness and his courage and everything else, but at the end of the day, we have to do what's right for him and for the Jets. And he doesn't need to be making this trip."

Mangold said he hopes to play next week in Baltimore, but until then, Colin Baxter will have to shoulder his responsibilities. Ryan said the Jets will do "a few different things protection-wise" to ease the rookie's transition, "but at the end of the day, he has to do the things outside of the building, and I think he's doing that."

Baxter, an Arizona product, said the biggest challenge facing him Sunday will be dealing with the Raider Nation noise.

"It makes it a little bit harder to communicate cadence and everything," he said. "It's their home opener, so I'm sure they're going to be fired up. But we just have to go out there and execute and play Jets football."

Notes & quotes: Rookie defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson was limited in practice Friday because of a shoulder injury. He's listed as "questionable" on the Jets' injury report, but Ryan said he thinks Wilkerson will play.