Young LB Lee eyes ‘leap’ year

With his second pro training camp in the books, Darron Lee already is feeling the difference a year can make.

After starting nine games and playing in 13 for the Jets as a rookie inside linebacker last season, tallying 42 tackles and a sack, the 2016 first-round pick is aiming for a sophomore surge.

“I’m looking forward to showing all the hard work I put in in the offseason and turning that into leaps from last year,” Lee said Tuesday on a conference call.

Lee missed three games midseason last year with a sprained ankle, then played through its lingering effects. Having a clean bill of health this summer, plus a year of experience under his belt, made camp “way different” the second time around.

“I don’t feel like a rookie, like I don’t know what’s going on,” Lee said. “I was able to play faster and work on some other things t hat I probably wasn’t able to work on last year because I had to work on other things at that point. Def i ni te ly a smoother camp for me this year.”

Could Matt Forte be the next veteran to go in the Jets’ salary purge?

According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Jets have “gauged” the trade market for the running back. Forte was sidelined with a hamstring injury early in training camp but has returned to practice and played in Saturday’s preseason game against the Giants. He had 10 carries for 43 yards.

Trading For te could prove difficult given his age (31), his salary ($4 million guaranteed this season) and his recent medical woes (two hamstring strains, shoulder and knee injuries over the past two years). Outside linebacker

Lorenzo Maudlin, who has yet to play in a game this preseason, did not practice again Tuesday as he continues to battle a back injury. Coach Todd

Bowles said though the injured reserve list is a possibility, no decision has been made yet.

Safety Rontez Miles has not played since suffering an eye laceration in the second preseason game against the Lions, but Bowles said the IR is not yet a consideration.

Elsewhere in the secondary, cornerback Morris

Claiborne (shoulder) participated in practice Tuesday and could be available to play Thursday.

The Jets announced fo r mer center Kev i n

Mawae will be the 2017 Ring of Honor inductee. The ceremony will be held at halftime of the Oct. 1 game against the Jaguars.