Smith (MCL sprain) unable to practice; opens door for Bush, Allen
New York Jets' Eric Smith, right, tries to stop San Diego Chargers' Mike Tolbert during the second quarter. (Oct. 23, 2011) Credit: AP
CORTLAND -- As expected, Eric Smith will not practice Sunday.
Though he’s listed as day-to-day officially, Rex Ryan said “there’s no way he’s practicing.”
The Jets head coach said Smith -- who suffered an MCL sprain in the preseason opener against the Bengals -- is “stiff and sore,” but doing better.
Though the team will be cautious with Smith, Ryan said he is “a quick-recover guy.”
The head coach also said he doesn’t think the Jets will go after another veteran safety on account of Smith’s injury. “I feel good with where we are he said,” referring to the team’s safety depth.
The Jets currently have two veterans – Yeremiah Bell and LaRon Landry – along with two rookies – Antonio Allen and Josh Bush – at the position. Allen, a South Carolina product, is more of “a linebacker-type” who is used to playing down around the line of scrimmage.
“Everything he’s doing in the back end is really new to him,” said Ryan. “But he’s a football player. And you see that on the practice field and everywhere else. He’s really got a chance.”
On the flips side is Bush, a Wake Forest product and a converted corner, who is more a of a "true high safety-type guy.”
The goal, said Ryan, is to “combine both of them. One guys’s got to be more physical and come to the party a little bit (Bush), and the other one’s learning how to play more of a deep patrol as well.”
Ryan also said he liked to get rookie D’Anton Lynn (son of Jets running backs coach Anthony Lynn) some playing time. “He’s as sharp as a tack,” said the Jets coach. “Despite his father, he’s pretty impressive.”
…in other injury news: WRs Santonio Holmes (hip) and Jeremy Kerley (hamstring) also won’t practice. Ryan said Kerley hopefullywill get back out there by the end of the week. …The coach isn’t 100 percent sure if RT Wayne Hunter (lower back stiffness) will be able to practice.
Ryan said WR Chaz Schilens left Friday’s game with an ankle injury. The veteran wide receiver, who was slowed earlier in training camp with a groin injury, was targeted once against the Bengals, but dropped the pass from Tim Tebow.
"Bless his heart," said Ryan. "He's trying to do everything he can to get out on that field."
So far, so good for Landry. He's still on a pitch count, and as of now, still healthy, Ryan said.
