The Jets appear to have a good shot at getting two big pieces back on defense Sunday against the Steelers.
Safety Jamal Adams and rookie defensive tackle Quinnen Williams practiced in a limited fashion Wednesday for the first time since their respective injuries. Adams has missed the last two games with a sprained ankle while Williams sat out last week with a neck injury.
“The fact that they’re limited today is a positive,” coach Adam Gase said. “We just kinda gotta see how it goes with them and see how they feel afterwards. This is going to be a day-to-day thing of how do they feel the next day. That’s kind of what we’re looking for.”
Gase said Adams “emotionally” wanted to play against the Ravens last Thursday, but couldn’t pull it off in the short week. The added rest puts him in line to make his return Sunday at MetLife Stadium.
“Chances of me playing this week [are] very high,” Adams said. But Gase plans on protecting Adams against himself to make sure he is fully healthy enough to play.
“He has to feel right,” Gase said. “I do not want to put him out there if there’s any chance there could be an injury that prolongs something down the road.”
Right guard Tom Compton did not practice Wednesday because of a calf injury. Compton has started the last five games because of injuries elsewhere on the offensive line, but Gase said it was too early to tell if he would be available Sunday.
“I think he’s one of those guys who is saying all the right things to me,” Gase said. “We’ll see how it is, he won’t practice today and see how it goes through the week.”
Adams is going back to the Pro Bowl for a second straight year but plans on staying away from any and all mascots. Last year, Adams delivered a hard tackle on Pat the Patriot, for which New England’s mascot needed medical attention.
“I’m not going to touch a mascot this year,” Adams said. “I’m just going to avoid him. I think he’s going to avoid me as well.”
WR Demaryius Thomas (hamstring/knee) did not practice. DL Henry Anderson (shoulder), OL Kelvin Beachum (ankles), LB B.J. Bello (illness), safety Bennett Jackson (illness), CB Arthur Maulet (calf), DL Steve McLendon (knee/hip), CB Brian Poole (concussion) and RB Bilal Powell (ankle) were limited.
Cornerback Maurice Canady (shoulder), quarterbacks Sam Darnold (knee/left thumb) and David Fales (right elbow), OL Brent Qvale (knee), and defensive linemen Kyle Phillips (hip) and Nate Shepherd (rib/ankle) practiced fully. CB Maurice Canady (shoulder), QB Sam Darnold (knee/left thumb), QB David Fales (right elbow), DL Kyle Phillips (hip), OL Brent Qvale (knee) and DL Nate Shepherd (rib/ankle) practiced fully.
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