PITTSBURGH — Two more key Jets players suffered injuries Sunday that kept them out for a long chunk of the game.
Linebacker David Harris injured his hamstring just before halftime and did not return. Center Nick Mangold left midway through the third quarter with a right knee injury. After the game, Mangold did not seem overly concerned about his injury. He said it happened early in the game, but he tried to play through it.
“It just kind of came on and got worse as we were going,” Mangold said. “After a while I realized I wasn’t as effective as I could be.”
Harris was not in the postgame locker room.
The Jets were already missing key pieces in cornerback Darrelle Revis (hamstring) and wide receiver Eric Decker (shoulder). Mangold and Harris are two of the most important players on the team. Mangold sets up the blocking protections up front and Harris calls the defense.
Coach Todd Bowles said he did not know the severity of either injury immediately following the game. Both players likely will have MRI exams Monday.
TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins made his Jets debut, catching two passes for 17 yards. The Jets claimed Seferian-Jenkins off waivers two weeks ago after the Buccaneers cut him following his second DUI arrest.
TE Brandon Bostick also had a catch in the game, the first by a tight end this season. The three catches by the Jets tight ends are more than they had in the last 12 games combined.
The Jets used CB Darryl Roberts in the nickel defense with Revis sidelined. It was a surprise because rookie Juston Burris had been filling that role. Roberts, who the Jets picked up after the Patriots cut him at the end of training camp, played a strong game before exiting with a shoulder injury in the third quarter.
“Roberts had a better week of practice this week,” Bowles said of the decision to play him. “Roberts was coming along for a while. He has a lot of speed to run with their speed. It was a good matchup for him.”
Brent Qvale started at right guard with Brian Winters (concussion) inactive. … The Jets are now 1-10 all-time in Pittsburgh. Their only win came in 2010. … This is the first three-game losing streak for the Jets under Bowles. The last time they lost three games in a row was in 2014 under Rex Ryan.