–So, who’s carrying the ball for the Jets is a question that might struggle to generate an answer, especially if the early injury reports hold true to form by Saturday’s game.
Isaiah Crowell, Trenton Cannon, and Elijah McGuire all sat out the first practice for the Houston game with various leg issues.
Crowell and Cannon sat out practice due to toe injuries while McGuire was not practicing due to an ankle injury.
By Wednesday, Crowell remained out while Cannon and McGuire were upgraded to limited.
Crowell injured his toe during the win in Buffalo and his foot was in a walking boot following Tuesday’s practice. He described the pain as “excruciating” and if he sits it would be the first time Crowell missed a game.
“I’ve never missed time before, so I don t know how it feels,” Crowell said. But it comes with the game. It is what it is. A lot of pride goes into (the playing streak).”
If neither of the three can play, practice-squad running backs De’Angelo Henderson and Mark Thompson could be activated. Henderson briefly appeared with the Denver Broncos last season when he had seven carries for 13 yards while Thompson was just added to the practice squad two weeks ago.
It’s likely their status won’t be finalized until Friday but it is something for the Jets to be concerned about.
–In the first year of a five-year contract, cornerback Trumaine Johnson is hoping to finish the season strong, especially with some of the lowlights from earlier this year.
Johnson missed five games with a groin injury and then upon returning gave up a 47-yard pass on the first play of the 41-10 loss to Buffalo on Nov. 11
Then as the Jets let a 16-point lead slip away in Tennessee he committed a costly facemask penalty to allow the game-winning drive to continue for the Titans.
As much as Sunday’s win in Buffalo will go down as rookie quarterback Sam Darnold’s first game-winning drive in the fourth quarter, Johnson also gave the Jets something to remember with a pair of interceptions of Josh Allen.
Johnson’s first interception occurred in the second quarter as linebacker Brandon Copeland chased Allen and the second interception sealed the game.
Johnson has three of his four interceptions in the last two games. He returned his interception for a touchdown against the Titans but it was overshadowed by the penalty.
This time, it highlighted a three-turnover showing by the defense and one Johnson and the Jets hope continues this week against the first of two remaining division leaders on the schedule.
BY THE NUMBERS: 15 — This is Sam Darnold’s league-leading interception total. He threw seven in the three games before sitting out with a sprained right foot and said he won’t stop taking chances. “I’m definitely not going to flinch if I feel like something is there and if I throw an interception, I’m definitely going to be (ticked) off about it for a little bit but at the same time move on,” Darnold said. “If a play is there and I see it’s there, I’m going to rip it again and have no flinch about it. So I think that’s just kind of the way I am and how I’ve played my whole life. I’m just going to continue to do that.”
