Jets coach Todd Bowles will wait on making snap decision on center Spencer Long
Jets head coach Todd Bowles looks on before a game against the Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday in Miami. Credit: Getty Images/Michael Reaves
Todd Bowles defended his decision to keep starting center Spencer Long in the game against the Dolphins on Sunday despite his numerous errant snaps. But Bowles didn’t rule out the possibility of Long taking a little break.
The Jets’ game against Buffalo this Sunday is their last before their bye. If Long sits out, he could get some time to rest his injured right middle finger.
“We’ll see where it goes,” Bowles said on Monday. “It’s been thought about. I haven’t expressed it to the coaches yet. We’ll deal with that this week.”
Long missed the Oct. 28 game in Chicago because of knee and finger injuries. He’s been dealing with the finger issue for several weeks, and his snapping has been affected by it.
It's been an ongoing issue, but it was extremely pronounced in Sunday's 13-6 loss to the Dolphins.
Long had several high snaps. One sailed over Sam Darnold’s head. Darnold said, “it disrupts the timing,” but still took responsibility for the loss.
Bowles kept Long in until the next-to-last series, replacing him with Jonotthan Harrison. But Bowles said he made the switch only because Long aggravated the finger injury.
“He was healthy,” Bowles said. “He had a great week of practice. He’s our starting center. So If he’s healthy enough to play he plays. We saw the finger started giving him more issues than normal, we replaced him with Jonotthan. His finger got banged up again.”
Long was distraught after the game. The Jets signed him away from the Redskins to be their starting center, and he has struggled.
“I’m doing the best I can to work through it and it just keeps getting worse,” Long said. “It’s something that obviously is very frustrating for me and I’m just trying to do the best I can to help this team.
“I go by whatever they think is best for me and this team. If they think we have a better chance with me in there, then I’m playing. If they don’t, then I’m not. We have a very viable backup in Jonotthan Harrison. He’s a very good player.
“Bottom line is I don’t want to let my team down, and I felt like I did.”
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
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