WAYNE HUNTED
Ryan excuses tackle from practice
The Wayne Hunter saga continued last night when the Jets’ embattled right tackle was excused from a public workout for “personal reasons” while speculation swirled that the team is vigorously trying to replace him.
Fresh off giving up four sacks (one negated by penalty) in just 16 pass plays Saturday against the Giants, Hunter attended team meetings earlier in the day but wasn’t present for the open team practice at MetLife Stadium.
Coach Rex Ryan refused to say why Hunter was excused, but scoffed when asked if the Jets held Hunter out to avoid a hostile reaction from the crowd of about 2,500 at MetLife Stadium for the Jets’ annual Family Night.
“No — no, I wasn’t,” Ryan said when pressed on whether he was concerned about the widespread ire directed at Hunter being a possible distraction during the practice.
Hunter missed the Jets’ preseason opener with back issues, but Ryan didn’t mention injuries or health being a factor in Hunter’s absence last night. Ryan also said the veteran lineman was expected to return practice today and would start Sunday at home against the Panthers.
“Wayne was in meetings today, but we had a conversation and it was a personal thing,” Ryan said after the twohour workout. “That’s the way it’ll remain. But it was excused. That’s really all I’m going to say. It’s between Wayne and I, and I was OK with him missing practice today.”
While former undrafted free agent Austin Howard worked in place of Hunter with the start ing offense last night, Ryan halfheartedly denied the team is trying to acquire a new right tackle either by way of trade or waiverwire acquisition.
“We’ll always look at whether there’s a player out there who can help our football team, and we’ll explore that possibility,” Ryan said. “But I’m not saying we’re looking at a right tackle, because quite honestly, I’m pretty happy with the roster we have.”
Asked if the Jets had stepped up their pursuit of a replacement since the Giants debacle, Ryan practically stammered his response.
“If there’s something out there ... “Ryan said. “Well, right now, to say we’re in the market for a starting tackle, I don’t believe that to be an accurate statement.”
Nick Mangold, the Jets’ perennial Pro Bowl center, defended Hunter as a capable lineman who Mangold said is just going through “a tough stretch.”
“Obviously, we all struggle at times,” Mangold said. “But Wayne’s a heck of a fighter, and he’ll keep on fighting. We’re expecting big things out of him.
“We all go through [scrutiny], and it’s something we’ve all had to deal with. He’s going to deal with it, he’s going to continue to get better, and that’s what we expect from him.”
Mangold said he had reached out recently to Hunter to offer verbal support but didn’t go overboard out of concern it would come off as insulting. The film and the results might say Hunter has been awful, but Mangold said Hunter’s teammates still have his back.
“He’s got all the ability in the world,” Mangold said. “He knows what he’s doing. But at times, things happen. Unfortunately for tackles, you get to see it a little more than those in the inside. But we all make mistakes and fight our way through it.”