Pace could return Sunday against Dolphins

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - Calvin Pace made his season debut under the lights in South Florida a year ago, returning to the fold following his four-game suspension for violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing drugs.

Might the same thing happen again this week with the Jets at Miami on Sunday night?

"It's too early right now," Pace said Monday. "Ultimately, I would love to play, but I don't want to be that guy out there that's trying to force a comeback and then I get injured worse. The defense is going good right now, so I don't see anything wrong with taking more time to get better.

"If I had to give you a percentage, the chances of me playing are 30-40 percent today. It might get better later in the week, but right now, that's what it is."

Pace, who broke his right foot in the Jets' third preseason game against the Redskins on Aug. 27, is 22 days removed from surgery and has made considerable progress. Monday, he did some football-related moves out on the field and he also ran effortlessly on a specially equipped treadmill that helps alleviate some of the weight on his 6-4, 265-pound frame.

"I'm not so sure we want to rule him out right now, even for this game," Rex Ryan said. "We'll see. But it would be extraordinary if he can play, though."

So is the Oct. 3 game at Buffalo more likely? "The way he's progressing," Ryan said, "there's no reason to think that he can't do that."

Pace said he's not having much pain. Now, it's mostly about getting over the mental hurdles.

"My foot really hasn't been active for a couple of weeks," he said. "Sometimes when you are dealing with injuries, it's kind of human nature to favor that a little bit. But as far as pain, it's not something that's hurting me or something I'm telling them, 'No, I can't do anything.' Every day it's been getting better and better."

Extra points

Ryan said he expects C Nick Mangold (shoulder) and LB Jason Taylor (left elbow) to play Sunday.