JETS NOTES
“He was an extraordinary kid. It’s affected me because I always feel like I’m referencing back to Dennis when I’m challenging our guys to handle their issues. It’s been a lifelong effect on me. I was lucky to know him and be around him.”
The Jets will honor Byrd before Sunday’s game with the Ravens at MetLife Stadium. There will be a video tribute, a moment of silence and former teammates and his family members will be on the field for the coin toss.
Carroll will be in Arizona for the Seahawks’ game against the Cardinals, but his thoughts have been with the Byrd family all week.
“It’s a big loss,” Carroll said. “We’re so sick because they’ve gone through so much as a family. Dennis went through so much. Now, this is the next thing they have to deal with. It’s almost too much to ask. [Byrd’s wife] Angela has been extraordinary and I understand the kids are doing great. Our hearts go out to them.”
Carroll coached Byrd from 1990-92 and was there when Byrd returned to The Meadowlands and walked on the field in 1993.
“It’s been a really emotional realization that he’s passed away because there was such emotion and it just came bubbling right up,” Carroll said. “We went through so much as Dennis took on the challenge of returning and we were so connected to it. I didn’t realize how powerful it still remained in me.”
The Jets made a few roster moves Saturday afternoon. The biggest was placing starting linebacker
Erin Henderson on the reserve-non-football injury/ illness list. The reason was unknown, but means Henderson likely will not return this season.
Technically, Henderson could be the one player the Jets bring back off of a reserve list this season after eight weeks, but that seems unlikely. The Jets also placed backup tight end Braedon Bowman on injured reserve with a knee injury. They signed linebackers Victor Ochi and Julian
Stanford from the practice squad. Without Henderson, the Jets are down two of their top three inside linebackers Sunday. Darron Lee has been declared out already with an ankle injury. That leaves Bruce
Carter and Stanford to play alongside David Harris, who is returning from a hamstring injury.
Harris had his streak of 121 consecutive games snapped last week in Arizona because of a hamstring injury. “It was kind of tough,” Harris said. “I’m used to being out there. I wasn’t healthy enough to go, so I had to live with it.”