If seeing body parts twist and turn in ways they weren't meant to move isn't your thing, do not look up the fourth play of the second quarter between the Jets and Saints.
Jeremy Kerley's blocking CB Jabari Greer on a Bilal Powell run to the left. Then, within milliseconds of each other, LB Curtis Lofton tackles Powell, LB David Hawthorne dives over Powell and Lofton, Kerley falls backward and puts both hands down on the turf to brace himself, and Hawthorne's momentum carries him right on through Kerley's left elbow.
"It was ugly, there's no question," head coach Rex Ryan said. "I don't know how else to describe it but like a horrific-looking injury."
Nevertheless, that description hasn't stopped Kerley from viewing the replay. And not just once.
"I love watching it," he said. "It happened to me so I watch it all the time. It's something I don't want to ever happen again, worst pain I've ever felt, but it was a freak accident. Things like that happen."
While Kerley will continue to deal with that pain as he rehabs the elbow, no one feels worse about the injury than Hawthorne, one of Kerley's good friends dating to their college days as TCU teammates.
"He was broken up a little bit," Jeremy said, "but I told him don't worry about it, it's part of the game. So it's all good."
Fortunately for Kerley and the Jets, it's a dislocation, not a break — still a huge deal to most people, but "nothing major" for Mr. Third Down.
"We're taking a lot of caution right now, trying not to fully extend it or anything like that," he said. "I'm not 100, but I'm a lot better than I was. My arm's getting stronger. I'm definitely going to recover from it, definitely looking to jump back on the field."
In fact, he already has jumped back on the field. He's been practicing on a limited basis throughout the week, wearing a red non-contact jersey over what appears to be a heavy brace on his arm and making look easy the acrobatic one-handed catches on balls that still have an NFL QB's zip.
His status for this week's game? Doubtful. "Probably very doubtful," Ryan said today. But the fact that he's even practicing on a limited basis is an encouraging sign.
"There haven't been a whole lot of receivers that have had this injury, like three in the last 10 years or something," Rex said. "It's kind of hard to say where he is, but the young man, to his credit, he wants to be out there in the worst way. He's showing it during the week, he's practicing. But again, we'll see how it goes. He's already way further along than I think what people were assuming."
As for the rest of the Jets, LB Garrett McIntyre is also doubtful as he continues to rehab his knee. WR Santonio Holmes (foot/hamstring) and TE Kellen Winslow (knee) were both limited today, but they, along with the rest of our team, are listed as probable.
Baltimore DT Haloti Ngata (knee), LB Daryl Smith (thigh) and CB Lardarius Webb (abdomen) are all listed as questionable after participating in today's Ravens practice on a limited basis.
"This is a huge game for both of our teams," Rex said. "I would expect Haloti to go. I know Haloti, if there is any possibility to go, he'll definitely be out there."
