The injury news was mostly good from the New York Jets’ first official announcement on availability for the Sept. 13 opening game against the Tennessee Titans.
One of the major concerns was the condition of Breece Hall. The running back pulled a groin muscle in training camp and didn’t play in the preseason after the injury. When the Jets brought in veteran running back Jerome Ford for a try-out earlier this week, alarm bells started ringing. Maybe the Jets weren’t being honest about how Hall was doing, and with fellow running back Isaiah Davis also limited with a knee injury, the Jets appeared to be thin in what was considered one of their strongest areas.
While there are still some lingering doubts, the good news is Hall participated in drills in a Tuesday practice and is “trending towards playing” in Sunday’s opener, according to Head Coach Aaron Glenn. While “trending” is not a clean bill of health, it does indicate that one of the Jets’ main weapons isn’t that far away.
Also encouraging was news on two rookies. Tight end Kenyon Sadiq and cornerback D’Angelo Ponds both participated in drills at Tuesday’s workout. Both were high draft choices that have been out the entire preseason.
Sadiq, whom many expected to be key to a revived Jets passing attack thanks to his blazing speed, was out with a sports hernia operation that bothered him again during the preseason. He may see some limited action in the first few weeks as a deep threat.
Likewise, cornerback D’Angelo Ponds was sidelined with a calf strain and has missed all of the preseason. That’s valuable time with a secondary that could use a good cover man. He also participated in drills on Tuesday, though it’s unlikely that he sees much time in the early part of the season.
Ponds injured his calf while running sprints on the first day of training camp. It wasn’t thought to be serious, with coach Aaron Glenn indicating that the rookie was “just fine” that day. But Ponds missed the rest of camp.
To no one’s suprise, highly unlikely for the Tennessee game is edge Joseph Ossai, who has a ruptured plantar fascia, or a sore foot, in layman’s terms. He’s listed as week-to-week, but it’s the type of injury that can linger for an entire season, particularly for a lineman that needs explosive moves. The Jets were counting on Ossai to be a change of pace with rookie David Bailey and returning sacks leader Will McDonald IV.
The Jets are off on Wednesday before heading back at it on Thursday.
