Jets recieve fresh injury blow, as Damien Woody placed on Injured Reserve
The New York Jets need to be at their best to defeat the New England Patriots this Sunday. What they don’t need are more injuries. But 17 weeks of football does take its toll on a team. New York’s head coach Rex Ryan announced this Wednesday that offensive
tackle Damien Woody had been placed on injured reserve after suffering an Achilles tendon injury.
Woody underwent surgery this Wednesday and will need months of rehab before he is able to play again. This season has ended for Woody, but he is expected to make a full recovery by June. Woody also had arthroscopic surgery performed on his right knee, but
returned to play in New York’s wild card playoff game against the Indianapolis Colts. He was injured in the last drive of that game, according Coach Ryan.
Ryan said, “It's unfortunate. He worked his tail off to get back and has a great challenge against him with (Indianapolis' Robert) Mathis and did a great job and was getting ready to play his old team.” In addition to Woody, offensive lineman Brandon Moore
is also suffering from a back injury he sustained while lifting weights on Tuesday. The extent of Moore’s injuries is a lot less severe though.
Moore said, “It's a non-issue. It'll be all right by Sunday. I'll treat it and be ready to go.” Moore had to miss practice but is expected to play against the New England Patriots.
However quarterback Mark Sanchez, who had been struggling with a shoulder injury, did practice with the team. “Honestly, it feels the best it's felt in three, four weeks,” Sanchez said. “I (fully practiced) today for the first time in a while, and that was
huge. We know it's getting better and that's the most important thing is week by week it's getting better so I'll be ready to go.”
Sanchez performed below expectations last week when the Jets faced the Indianapolis Colts. He threw just 189 yards in the game. He managed to throw one touchdown pass but that was also intercepted. On the other hand Peyton Manning was able to thrown 225
yards and a touchdown pass without being intercepted. Sanchez insists that his performance was not a result of his shoulder injury.
“I think I was just not throwing the ball very well,” Sanchez said. “Some days you're off or you've got to finds a way to make it work.” He admitted that his touchdown pass to Braylon Edwards wasn’t a very good one, but added that the Jets still won the
game and that was the most important thing.
The Jets were supported by their running game against the Indianapolis Colts more than anything else, but against the New England Patriots they need Sanchez to perform to his fullest and lead the Jets offence. Without Woody manning the offensive line, that
task would be slightly more difficult for the quarterback.
“(Woody) is one of the best offensive tackles out there if not the best right tackle,” offensive tackle Wayne Hunter said. “So I think it will always mess up the chemistry a little bit, but since I've been playing against Pittsburgh and Chicago, it [could]
be more. I don't think it will be that much of a change.” Hunter is expected to replace Woody this Sunday.
Coach Ryan said that the Jets were fortunate to have Hunter as Woody’s backup, and added that he had played a lot of football for the Jets. Running-back Shonn Green also praised Hunter by saying, “We have a lot of confidence in Wayne”. He said that the Jets
wouldn’t lose much, if anything at all while Hunter stands in for Woody. “He's already been playing when Damien was hurt. Either way, those are two good tackles right there.”
The Jets are facing a slew of injuries this week. Wide Receiver Brad Smith also did not participate in practice but he is expected to play on Sunday. Santonio Holmes (quadriceps), James Ihedigbo (knee) and Darrelle Revis (Hamstring) had limited participation
in practice.
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