Sunday's 28-14 victory over the division-rival Patriots did not come without some bumps and bruises for the Jets. Every AFC East divisional game is a slugfest, and so on Monday head coach Rex Ryan addressed some of his team's injuries that were sustained in the game.
"I understand that everybody went in and got looked at," Ryan said. "I talked to Nick [Mangold] and Jason [Taylor], but those MRIs weren't back, to my knowledge, so I'm not really sure. I feel pretty good about really almost all of the guys, except Darrelle I'm not really sure about."
While Mangold, Taylor and wide receiver Brad Smith all seem probable for the Jets' Sunday night showdown against the Dolphins, there's less positive news in regards to Darrelle Revis' hamstring injury. Revis originally felt tightness in his hamstring in practice Wednesday, but felt 100 percent until he tightened up again on the Tom Brady touchdown pass to Randy Moss.
"We don't want to push it to where it's a problem," Revis said, "where I have to keep on coming out of the game or I can't practice. Right now we're just going to take our time with it until I feel it's at 100 percent."
The injury was being classified as a strain. Last summer, Revis pulled a hamstring and missed two preseason games, but he couldn't recall ever missing a regular-season game — even back to his high school days. Despite massages and acupuncture in the days leading up to the Patriots game, Revis could miss the first game of his pro career.
"We'll do what's in his best interest and the team's best interest," Ryan said. "We're not going to force a guy out to play. But it's a big game and a lot of different variables go into that decision. At the end of the day if you just do what's in the best interest of the player, that's the best thing."
Ryan recalled tough decisions last season with cornerback Lito Sheppard, citing a time where they held him out of a game, and then a different time when they allowed him to play. In the latter contest, Sheppard reinjured himself and he was unable to play for an even longer stretch of time. Ryan said that he, Revis and the team doctors will sit down this week and make the correct decision about whether the Jets' All-Pro corner will play at Miami.
"If I can play Sunday, I will be out there on Sunday," Revis said. "If I'm doubtful, I'm doubtful. If I can't, then I won't be out there. This week we'll test it out and see where I am, and I'll probably give you a percentage later on in the week."
Revis would not necessarily have to practice this week in order to play, and Ryan sounded confident that Mangold and Taylor would both be playing in Miami. Mangold left briefly with a shoulder injury and Taylor did the same with an elbow injury. Both returned for the most important stretches of the game. Mangold helped lead the offense on the drive that put the Jets up by two touchdowns, and Taylor sacked Brady, forcing a fumble to end what turned out to be the Patriots' last possession.
"I think both those guys are really tough guys," Ryan said. "Jason, we all know his history — he plays and Nick is a tough guy. We'll see but I feel good about him."
In other good news, linebacker Calvin Pace seems to be recovering well from a foot injury and safety Brodney Pool played well in his Jets debut, even making an interception, after recovering from an ankle injury. While Pace won't be ruled out for the Dolphins game, it appears more likely that his first action of the season will be in the Week 4 matchup at Buffalo.
"Calvin is doing great — extraordinary, I think, is the way some people put it, the doctor and everyone else," Ryan said. "He's way ahead of where most people are at this time."
