Jets coach Rex Ryan decided to play the role of reporter Wednesday during a conference call with Bills rookie wide receiver Sammy Watkins.
Ryan knows Watkins because his son Seth is a former teammate of Watkins’ at Clemson. Ryan was walking to his press conference when he spotted the room filled with reporters asking Watkins questions. He jumped right in.
“Sammy, I got a question,” Ryan said. “How did you help Seth Ryan out? How did he do out there? And if you could really help him, you wouldn’t play this game. This sounds like Rex Ryan — I know it does — but this is a reporter. [Pause] How’re you doing Sammy? You all right?”
A confused Watkins said: “Yeah, how you doing?”
Ryan has been a fan of Watkins for a while. Now, he has to try to stop him. Watkins, the No. 4 overall pick in the draft, had nine catches for 122 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winner Sunday against the Vikings.
“When you see him on tape, he’s one of those guys that doesn’t come around very often, kind of like the Julio Jones, [A.J.] Green at Cincinnati, one of those kind of receivers, elite receivers,” Ryan said.
WR Eric Decker was limited in practice as he continues to deal with a right hamstring injury.
“I feel all right,” Decker said. “Every day again trying to get better as far as the strength and mobility. I’m staying on top of it in the training room. Last Thursday I felt pretty good. I just have to build off that. Right now, it’s day-to-day until I get to the bye week.”
The Jets have used four different pairs of starting cornerbacks in the past four games. Antonio Allen, Darrin Walls, Dee Milliner and Phillip Adams have all started. Last week, Adams and Walls started the game, but Kyle Wilson replaced Adams in the second quarter. The Jets later discovered Adams had a groin injury, which limited him in practice.
Ryan would not reveal which corners will start this week against the Bills.
“I’m not saying what we’re doing,” Ryan said. “Adams was a little limited today with a groin injury. We’ll see what we do. Bill Belichick thing there.”
LB Trevor Reilly (knee) was the only Jet to miss practice. … Decker (hamstring), Adams (groin), WR Greg Salas (wrist, ankle), LB David Harris (shoulder), G Willie Colon (knee) and G Oday Aboushi (shoulder) were limited. … For the Bills, WR Marquise Goodwin (hamstring), RB Fred Jackson (groin) and LB Ty Powell (ankle) did not practice.