Injuries? Shhh ... don’t tell
The Jets continue to treat injuries like national government secrets. They may as well slap a classified stamp on the distributed report.
In an at-times contentious back-andforth between Todd Bowles and reporters Thursday, the Jets coach made it clear he isn’t going to change the limited amount of information he gives out about injuries.
It began when Bowles was asked why he said defensive lineman Muhammad Wilkerson merely had a bruised shoulder on Wednesday, when Wilkerson later told reporters he had a Grade 1 sprained AC joint.
“I’m not going to talk about injuries in depth,” Bowles said tersely. “That ain’t my job. My job is to give the injury report. I give the injury report. I’m not going to go into details about anything else. Either they practice or don’t practice. But I know everything.”
Asked why Wilkerson got an MRI exam only this week after injuring the shoulder in the team’s Week 2 loss to the Raiders, Bowles said, “You have to talk to the training staff about that. I have no idea.”
Asked if reporters could speak to them, Bowles said, “No.”
Bowles also was asked about rookie tight end Jordan Leggett’s nagging knee injury, which has kept him out of the first three games and off the practice field all month. He merely said Leggett’s knee was sore.
“That’s about all you’re getting,” the coach said to a follow-up question. “I’m not a doctor. I’m not going to go into [injuries any] more. Don’t ask me.”
Defensive end Kony Ealy missed practice for the second straight day with an excused absence. Ealy, receiving starters snaps through three games, has been a bright spot on the Jets defense, notching six tackles. His status is up in the air for Sunday’s game against the Jaguars.
David Bass would likely see extended playing time in Ealy’s absence. Running back Matt Forte (knee, toe), linebacker Josh Martin (ankle), offensive tackle Brandon Shell (shoulder), Leggett and Wilkerson didn’t practice, and tight end Eric Tomlinson (elbow) and defensive lineman Leonard Williams (wrist) were limited. Offensive guard Brian Winters (abdomen) practiced fully.
Defensive end Lawrence Thomas made his first career reception Sunday, catching a 15-yard pass for a first down. A fullback in high school, the Jets used him in that spot for 14 plays. But that may not be a regular occurrence. The Jets don’t have a fullback on the roster.