Jets’ Pryor aims to be healthy for start of camp

Terrelle Pryor tried pushing himself through practice and games last season until his ailing right ankle had enough.

The wide receiver’s one season in Washington was a major disappointment because of the early season injury that eventually sidelined him. Now with the New York Jets, the former Ohio State quarterback-turned-wide receiver is looking for a big-time comeback — as long as he can get — and stay — healthy.

“It’s big because I love it here,” Pryor said Thursday after New York’s threeday minicamp ended. “I’d like to finish my career here. So, I want to come out and have a great year and I believe I will. If I stay healthy, God-willing and I know I will, I’m not even going to talk about that anymore.

“I’ll come out here and hit the field running — fast, hard — and be a leader on the field to the offense and do whatever I can to be the best teammate I can be.”

Pryor, who turns 29 next Wednesday, was unable to practice during organized team activities or minicamp because he had arthroscopic surgery on his right ankle with a different injury from the one that shut him down with the Redskins. He was in a walking boot until Wednesday, but is uncertain to be ready for the start of training camp in late-July.

“We’ll see how his progress goes over the summer and we’ll deal with it when we come back,” coach Todd Bowles said.

Pryor remains optimistic about his chances of being able to pass his physical and immediately practice with his teammates.

“I believe so,” said Pryor, adding that the decision will be that of Bowles and head athletic trainer John Mellody. “But, for now, in my mind, I’ll be there the first day.”

Pryor has had a long, winding and sometimes wild football journey to get to New York, where he signed a one-year deal worth $4.5 million after also taking a freeagent visit to Seattle over the winter and garnering some interest from Cleveland.

He was intrigued at the thought of playing in offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates’ system, and knew about Karl Dorrell’s reputation for being one of the league’s most-respected wide receivers coaches.

“I think he can take me to the next level of where I’m trying to go,” Pryor said.

Expectations have always been high for Pryor, who was a top high school recruit from southwestern Pennsylvania before becoming the starting quarterback for Ohio State from 2008 to 2010 and one of college football’s most exciting players.

He withdrew from Ohio State in June 2011 after a memorabilia-for-cash-andtattoos scandal, and was selected by Oakland in the NFL supplemental draft two months later. Pryor played in just four games during his first two seasons with the Raiders, and then started nine games at quarterback in 2013 before being benched.

Stints with Seattle, Kansas City and Cincinnati all flamed out. Then, Pryor announced that he would switch to wide receiver on a full-time basis. That led to an opportunity in Cleveland, where he played in three games in 2015. The next season, Pryor led the Browns in receptions, yards receiving and TD catches.