JET NOTES
The Jets, 2-4 and in desperate need of a win against Atlanta this week, are doing anything they can to accentuate the positive.
“We’re fine,” LB Jonathan Vilma said yesterday. “We’re cool. There is no panic situation here.”
Asked if the team, with a loss, would be on the verge of a panic situation, Vilma said, “We’re 1-1 in our division and that’s what counts. That’s the main thing, right? We have to win the division. Winning the division will automatically put us in the playoffs.
“These games [out of the AFC East] count. They’re important and we want to have a good record, but we’re still not out of it by any stretch of the imagination.”
The Jets enter this week a game out of first place in the AFC East. New England and Buffalo lead at 3-3.
“Just looking at our division, a lot of teams kind of bunched up,” WR Wayne Chrebet said. “It’s a shame because we had a great opportunity to jump ahead of other teams [with a win in Buffalo last week]. I know we have to play the teams that are ahead of us and you know if you win your division you’re there.”
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The Jets’ defense has produced nine sacks this season; their offense has yielded 21.
DE Shaun Ellis said yesterday there is no cause for concern.
“Sacks, they come in bunches,” said Ellis, who has 2½ sacks. “Once they start coming, then we’ll get them. We just have to get more opportunities. Right now, we’re worrying about stopping the run. Sacks are the last thing on our minds right now.”
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S Oliver Celestin (knee) was downgraded from questionable to doubtful yesterday and will not play Monday. RB Curtis Martin didn’t practice yesterday to rest his sore knee, but he’ll play. Martin was added to the injury list as probable yesterday, as were WR Justin McCareins (knee) and CB Derrick Strait (headaches).
LB Eric Barton (ankle) is listed as probable and will play Monday, though LB Mark Brown will continue to start as Barton is worked back in and moves closer to 100 percent.
CB Ty Law (sore lower back) didn’t practice yesterday, but was upgraded to probable and is expected to start. FB B.J. Askew (ankle) is probable and has been practicing and should play. DE John Abraham (sore knee) is probable.
C Kevin Mawae, whose 177 consecutive-starts streak will end Monday, said he’ll have surgery on his torn triceps Wednesday. Mawae is making the trip to Atlanta.
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For the Falcons, RB T.J. Duckett (ankle) is listed as questionable and didn’t practice full yesterday. QB Michael Vick, asked about the chances of Duckett playing, said, “He probably won’t be out there; it’s not a good chance of seeing him out there.”
DE Patrick Kerney (abdomen) was added to the list as probable, as was OT Todd Weiner (arm).