Rookie provides rare bright spot

There were very few positives in the Jets’ 41-10 loss to the Colts, but rookie wide receiver Robby Anderson provided one late in the game when most people probably were not watching.

Anderson hauled in a 41yard touchdown pass from Bryce Petty with 11:19 left in the game for his first touchdown and the Jets’ only touchdown of the game.

Petty and Anderson tried to connect on several long throws in the second half and finally did. Anderson has been a bright spot in this miserable Jets season. The undrafted rookie out of Temple went from roster long shot to training-camp sensation to starter.

Anderson has 26 catches this season and has been starting since Eric Decker went down with a shoulder injury in September.

Center Nick Mangold returned to the lineup after missing four games with a sprained ankle. Mangold showed some signs of rust with a bad shotgun snap in the first half, but that was the least of the Jets’ problems on the night.

Defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson (ankle) was listed as questionable, but played in the game. He was in on five tackles. Wilkerson did not seem to play his normal allotment of snaps, perhaps a concession to the injury.

Wilkerson’s status became a question when he did not practice Saturday after practicing fully on Thursday and Friday. He has been bothered by his surgically repaired right leg all season.

The Colts entered the game 31st in the NFL with 38 sacks allowed this season. The Jets managed only one in the game, a Leonard Williams sack of Andrew Luck in the f irst half. The pass rush was nonexistent for most of the night. Luck had tons of time to throw.

The Jets inactives for Monday night’s game were: WR Devin Smith, QB Christian Hackenberg, S Calvin Pryor, OLB Lorenzo Mauldin, NT Steve McLendon, OL Dakota Dozier and WR Jalin Marshall.