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Florham Park – It’s time for a helping of Dan’s Website Whispers live from One Jets Drive. Enjoy . . .
The only truly healthy Jets quarterback is Brady Quinn.
Since the Jets preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Matt Simms has been walking around with a medical sleeve of some kind on his lower left leg. He took a terrible beating in that game.
He was listed on the injury report today with calf and oblique injuries.
It doesn’t seem too serious, and he will be the #2 quarterback this week, since Brady Quinn barely knows the system . . .
I’m not saying it’s a big deal, but it’s clear Geno Smith’s ankle still isn’t 100 percent. Now, it’s a lot better than it was, but is still not all the way back.
When he rolls out, he can see it’s still not right. You can see a little hobble in his gait . . .
The Jets are using Ben Ijalana as a backup swing tackle. This is the role they envisioned for Oday Aboushi, and then Jason Smith, who was back with them briefly last week.
You have to wonder about Ben’s left knee. Remember, he’s essentially missed the last two seasons, injurying the same knee twice.
And on the Wednesday’s injury report he was listed with a “knee.”
He also had a lot of tape on that knee.
It will be interesting where this goes.
After watching and monitoring Ijalana for a week or so, will the Jets go full speed ahead with this player, who will his knee situation bother them.
Right now, they are kicking the tires, so to speak . . .
The one big takeaway from the John Idzik and Woody Johnson press conferences today – this QB competition is far from over.
And I don’t think this is window-dressing.
The Jets aren’t handing Geno the keys to the car and just letting him drive it this year, come heck of high water. They aren’t into this idea of “letting him learn on the job.”
After two rough seasons in a row, Woody, Rex, and newcomer Idzik, want to win this year.
They aren’t writing off this year to develop a QB.
If Geno lays an egg, in the first game or two, you could see Brady Quinn or Mark Sanchez in Week Three.
This story is far from over . . .
Once again, today in practice, Dee Milliner looked very fast and quick, not favoring his injured calf or Achilles (it’s unclear which one it is).
After the team stretch, he did some extra stretching under the watchful eye of secondary coach Tim McDonald . . .
Mark Sanchez walked into the locker room, saw the media, and then walked out with PR guy Bruce Speight. The media was around his locker. Honestly, I would have left if I were him also.
He spoke on Monday, and nothing has changed with his injury since then.
Sanchez was on the field early in practice, but then left the field.
Reading the tea leaves, I don’t think he’s close . . .
Kenrick Ellis was back at practice today, in uniform, but you get the sense he’s still a week away.
Usually what Jets trainer John “Unchained” Mellody does, is he brings a player back to practice on a limited basis, a week before they return full.
So Ellis could return for the New England game, or for Buffalo.
But New England is a bad matchup for Ellis because they spread you on offense with their high-powered passing game, so you need more speed on the field. He’s best used against teams that like to run.
So a Buffalo return might be more likely . . .
Santonio Holmes status remains a mystery.
While Holmes practiced. I hear Stephen Hill and Clyde Gates were starting at receiver today . . .
Smith overthrew Hill on a couple of passes early in practice.
Marty Mornhinweg made them run the same play for a third time, and they finally connected.
Smith and Hill are still working on getting on the same page . . .
September 3, 2013
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