Injury Report: Updates On Chris Johnson And Eric Decker
By Dave Thomas
For the New York Jets, the next 11 games can go one of two ways.
On one hand, the Jets could turn things around beginning this Sunday at home against Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos and start some momentum. On the other hand, Head Coach Rex Ryan and the Jets could see an already disappointing 2014 campaign get even worse.
Coming into the season, the Jets had hoped to contend for the AFC East title. While the division is certainly not taken at this point, New York's play through the first five games certainly doesn't have many people thinking it will be on top come the end of December.
Geno Smith Experiment Continues
For anyone who follows the Jets, it is common knowledge that second-year QB Geno Smith is in the hot seat. That seat got even hotter last weekend in warm San Diego, as Smith and the Jets were whitewashed 31-0 by the AFC West leading Chargers.
In a game that saw Ryan unsuccessfully turn to veteran QB Michael Vick in the second half when the team was already down 21-0, still more questions were left for Ryan to answer after the game and during the week leading up to Sunday's tilt with the Broncos.
Yes, Ryan has made it clear that Smith is still his quarterback, but will Ryan and Smith ultimately be on the Jets version of the Titanic come the end of the season? Is Ryan willing to sink or swim with the West Virginia product no matter how much he and the offense struggle the rest of the way? Lastly, has the team lost confidence in Smith and even Ryan for that matter, especially those on the defensive side of the ball who are trying to keep the team in games, only to see Smith and the offense go three-and-out more times than not?
An upset win at home this Sunday over the heavily favored Broncos would certainly quiet some of the discontent in both the locker room and the New York media. Heck, back-to-back wins this Sunday and next Thursday at hated rival New England might even get some to thinking the Jets have a reasonable chance to come back and win the AFC East.
For now, however, the Jets just want to focus 60 minutes of play on Manning and the Broncos and see where the chips fall.
As they head into that contest, the Jets were looking at injuries to a number of players including running back Chris Johnson (ankle) and wide receiver Eric Decker (hamstring).
Decker, who formerly played for the Broncos, would like nothing better than to suit up and get a win against his former teammates.
Thursday's injury report included:
Josh Bush (safety) - quadriceps - did not practice
Jeff Cumberland (tight end) - illness - did not practice
Eric Decker (wide receiver) - hamstring - limited practice
Breno Giacomini (tackle) - lower back - full practice
David Harris (linebacker) - shoulder - did not practice
Damon Harrison (nose tackle) - ankle - full practice
Chris Johnson (running back) - ankle - full practice
Nick Mangold (center) - shoulder - limited practice
Dee Milliner (corner) - quadriceps - full practice
David Nelson (wide receiver) - ankle - limited practice
Darrin Walls (corner) - knee - limited practice
For more Jets news and updates, visit Jets Central.
Dave Thomas has been covering the sports world since his first job as a sports editor for a weekly newspaper in Pennsylvania back in 1989. He has covered a Super Bowl, college bowl games, MLB, NBA and more. His work can be found on Examiner.com.