Tennessee looking at DC Rodgers
The Daily News first reported Monday that the University of Tennessee has expressed interest in Jets defensive coordinator Kacy Rodgers to be its next head coach, according to sources. Tennessee fired head coach Butch Jones on Sunday after dropping to 4-6 (0-6 in the SEC) with Saturday’s 50-17 blowout loss to Missouri. Rodgers played for Tennessee as a four-year letterman from 1988-91, helping the Volunteers to a conference championship in his each of his last two collegiate seasons.
It hasn’t been determined yet whether Rodgers will interview for the job. Rodgers, a Humboldt, Tenn. native, has spent the last three seasons as the Jets’ defensive coordinator under Todd Bowles. He previously coached in the SEC as the defensive line coach at Arkansas for the 2002 season. The 48-year-old also spent three seasons on the Middle Tennessee State staff from 1999-2001.
NO FORTE UPDATE
Bowles said there hasn’t been any indication “yet” from the Jets training staff that Matt Forte (knee) will be ready to return after the bye week. Forte was ruled out of Sunday’s loss to the Bucs after having swelling in his surgically repaired right knee. He rushed for a season-high 77 yards in a Week 9 win over the Bills. “We’ll just monitor it and see how it goes during the week,” Bowles said of the 31-year-old Forte. “He gets a week off, and come back Monday and see where he’s at.”
Cornerback Morris Claiborne left Sunday’s game in Tampa after aggravating a foot sprain he suffered in Week 8. “I don’t think it was any worse than it was the other week,” Bowles said Monday of Claiborne’s foot.
NATS THE TICKET
JoJo Natson served as kick and punt returner Sunday, a day after he was activated off the practice squad. Natson replaced the suspended Jeremy Kerley as the punt returner. Bowles said he opted to play Natson as the kick returner for two reasons: 1) The Jets only had two active running backs with Forte out, and he didn’t want to risk an injury to Elijah McGuire; and 2) ArDarius Stewart tweaked his groin in practice late in the week and wasn’t available as a returner.
NO AUSTIN POWERS
In his return to Tampa, tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins didn’t record a catch until under six minutes remained in regulation. Josh McCown said Monday that was because the Bucs played a lot of man coverage early in the game and focused on containing Seferian-Jennkins.
“Obviously we look back at that and figure out what we can do better to make sure we get him involved earlier,” McCown said.