JET NOTES
The Jets’ roster now looks like a true infirmary. It’s a wreck.
There are roster moves that Herman Edwards would like to make, such as activating defensive tackle Josh Evans, but his hands are tied because of injuries and problems at other positions where he cannot cut players for fear of not having enough bodies for the game.
Edwards has both his top cornerback, Donnie Abraham, who’s missed the last seven weeks with a fractured shoulder, and free safety Jon McGraw, who’s missed the last four games with a partially dislocated shoulder, listed as questionable for Sunday’s game against the high-powered Colts in Indianapolis.
Though both players practiced full yesterday for the first time since their respective injuries, it’s believed that neither will return to the lineup Sunday.
Fortunately for the Jets, CB Ray Mickens, who suffered a neck injury last Sunday in Oakland, has been upgraded to probable for Sunday’s game, so it appears he’ll again start in place of Abraham.
Young CB Omare Lowe, who was signed a few weeks ago and was just brought to the regular roster from the practice squad on Tuesday, might be forced into duty on the nickel or dime packages and on special teams.
“I’ve never been on a team that’s gotten blown up like this with injuries,” Edwards said. “We’ve just got to find some more guys, put them in, bandage them up and keep going.”
Edwards’ dilemma with Evans, who last week was reinstated by the NFL after serving a suspension for violating the league’s substance abuse policy, is that if he activates him to the regular roster he has to cut a player. Because of the uncertainty in the secondary and at receiver, where the team lost Wayne Chrebet for the season yesterday, he can’t cut anyone at those positions.
Edwards sounded as if he’s leaning heavily toward waiting another week before deciding whether to activate Evans, who’s practiced four days since being reinstated.
“I think one week [of practice] is pretty quick,” Edwards said. “You also run into the situation with Josh where you’ve got to cut a player to make a (roster) spot for him. Then you have to get him into the rotation. That’s a difficult task to do all those things.”
Making matters even worse for the Jets is DE John Abraham’s continued absence with a groin injury. Without Abraham, the Jets’ pass rush was non-existent in Oakland. They’ll be lucky to have him back by next week.
The only good news for the Jets is that Colts’ Pro Bowl WR Marvin Harrison, who’s second in the AFC with 56 receptions, is listed as doubtful with a hamstring injury.