Woody on IR; Ryan touts replacement Hunter

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - Just when the Jets most need their running game in Sunday's divisional playoff game at New England, they've lost starting tackle Damien Woody, the battering ram on the right side. Woody suffered a ruptured left Achilles tendon on the first play of the Jets' last drive in their 17-16 wild-card victory Saturday at Indianapolis. He underwent surgery yesterday afternoon.

Woody missed the final three games of the regular season after undergoing arthroscopic right knee surgery, but he came back for the Colts game and played well against pass-rushing defensive end Robert Mathis. "It's tough because he worked his tail off to get back," Jets coach Rex Ryan said, "and now, getting ready to play against his old team in New England in the playoffs."

As usual, Ryan spun bad news into gold in talking about Woody's replacement. "We're fortunate," Ryan said. "I've always said we have the best backup tackle in the league in Wayne Hunter."

When Ryan's compliment was relayed to the 6-5, 318-pound tackle from Hawaii, Hunter just grinned and said his coach was full of it. After all, this start against the Patriots will be just the sixth of his NFL career. "He tends to over-exaggerate sometimes," Hunter said of Ryan. "I'm just trying to back up what he says. That's the thing about our coach - you don't want to let him down."

Maybe that's the point of all the positive vibes emitting from Ryan, but in fact, Hunter's performance in place of Woody at the end of the regular season gave the Jets' coach good reason to be optimistic. The Jets' offense was in a tailspin when Hunter replaced Woody for the Pittsburgh, Chicago and Buffalo games, but they proceeded to win two of the three and average 31.3 points in that stretch.

"If a backup steps up, we should be able to pick up the ball where it left off," Hunter said. "I feel good, especially after the last part of the season. I played well. It's more credit to Schotty than anything. He had a hell of a game plan going into those games. I had to step up my game, and I think I did."

Right guard Brandon Moore said Hunter's experience against division champs Pittsburgh and Chicago was a "blessing in disguise." The Steelers play a 3-4 defense similar to New England's except Hunter said he hasn't faced a defensive tackle like 325-pound Patriots run-stopper Vince Wilfork, who often lined up over Woody and Moore.

"I've just got to be ready," Hunter said. "Vince is a man. He's strong, stout, hard to move, well worthy of the Pro Bowl name. He's got a quick first move. He's not your best pass rusher, but he'll stop the run against anybody."

Of course, the Jets are in big trouble if the Patriots stop their running game. But running back Shonn Greene expressed confidence in Hunter. "Wayne's a starting tackle," Greene said. "I don't think we lose much, if anything at all."