Mangold to play in Jets' opener Monday night
8/11/11, Florham Park: New York Jets center Nick Mangold #74 is surrounded by staff and coaches including head coach Rex Ryan, right, after he was hurt during practice at the Atlantic Health Training facility. Florham Park,NJ 8/11/11 3:58:37 PM photo by Joe Epstein Credit: Newsday/Joe Epstein
About 17 hours after suffering a stinger in practice Thursday, Jets Pro Bowl center Nick Mangold only observed the morning walkthrough but said his neck and shoulders felt fine.
“I went numb there, which is always a little disconcerting,” Mangold said. “That kind of shoots a shock to the system. But I’m feeling better today.”
Mangold went down on the final play of goal-line practice Thursday, remaining on the ground for several minutes as trainers examined his neck and head. He eventually walked off under his own power and spent the rest of practice in the training room.
Mangold said he won’t hit in afternoon practice Friday but does expect to play in the team’s preseason opener against Houston on Monday.
“Nothin’ too crazy,” Mangold said. “But I wanted to take precautions.”
The exhilaration of seeing running back Shonn Greene leap over the line into the end zone on the play was wiped out quickly as the scrum parted and No. 74 still lay on the ground. Players took a momentary knee as Mangold was being attended to by trainers. Jets coach Rex Ryan said he held his breath.
“I went over there and then we saw him get the feeling back in his limbs and it was like, ‘Oh, phew,’” Ryan said. “That’s a scary deal.”
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