The Jets may have their top offensive player back on the field Sunday when they play the Browns at MetLife Stadium.
After missing the past two games with the hyperextended knee he suffered in the 13-11 loss to the Broncos in London, receiver Garrett Wilson will return to practice when the team is back on the field Wednesday.
This is good news for the Jets considering that Wilson, who leads the team with 36 receptions for 395 yards and four touchdowns, hasn’t even been spotted on the practice field since the injury.
Jets head coach Aaron Glenn, speaking to reporters on Monday for the first time since the team began its bye week, would not go as far as to say that Wilson will play Sunday. But there is optimism.
“He’s going to practice this week, so I’m looking forward to him getting out and practicing,” Glenn said. “Let’s see how that goes during the week. I don’t want to place too much on him right now, but I’m excited about him getting out there and being able to practice.”
Wilson’s teammates are stoked about his return.
“We’ve definitely missed him, but guys have done a great job of stepping up, like Tyler Johnson last week,” Jets guard Joe Tippmann said Monday. “But having him back … he’s a weapon in the offense, so it’d be huge.”
Jets tight end Jeremy Ruckert echoed Tippmann, saying it “would be huge” to have Wilson back.
“He’s an unreal talent that you can’t really fill that void,” Ruckert said. “His energy is great every day in the locker room and in the huddle. So, having a guy back like that would be great.
“Whenever he gets back, I don’t expect there to be much of an adaptation period. I think he’s going to step in and be himself right away. So it’ll be great to have him back whenever that is and we’re excited about it.”
One player who’s not coming back is safety Andre Cisco, an offseason acquisition.
Glenn on Monday confirmed that Cisco is out for the season after reinjuring his shoulder against the Bengals.
“Andre’s out for the season,” Glenn said. “He had a shoulder [issue] and there’s some other things he’s actually going to fix. He had an issue before that, so there are some other parts of his arm that he’s going to get fixed too while he’s getting his shoulder taken care of.”
In other injury news, expected to join Wilson on the practice field Wednesday will be TE Mason Taylor, TE Stone Smartt, QB Tyrod Taylor and RB Breece Hall.
Glenn said CB Sauce Gardner, KR Kene Nwangwu and LB Kiko Mauigoa are “finishing up” concussion protocol and, “I’m assuming that will go perfect, so [I’m] looking forward to those guys getting out and practicing also.”
Glenn said newly acquired receiver John Metchie III, whom they picked up last week in a trade with the Eagles, could be ready to contribute as soon as Sunday, though he wouldn’t commit to that.
“Guys, we just got him,” Glenn said. “I would assume health-wise he should be fine. I don’t want to put too much on a player just getting here. Let’s see how he operates this week.”
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
