The end for Kris Jenkins came on only the sixth defensive play of the Jets’ season.
And, barring a significant change of heart, it likely marked the end of the 31-year-old Jenkins’ nine-year NFL career.
When Jenkins’ left knee crumpled as he and a couple of teammates tried to make a tackle on Ravens fullback Le’Ron McClain, memories of him tearing the same anterior cruciate ligament in the sixth game of the 2009 season flashed in everyone’s mind.
So, too, did the fact that this could be it for a player Rex Ryan has called the best defensive tackle in the NFL.
Jenkins, after all, talked openly how seriously he considered retirement during this past offseason — and that was as he was rehabbing his knee to play again in 2010.
Because he just found out his fate today after an MRI exam and he’s still digesting the bad news, it’s surely too soon for Jenkins to make such a definitive decision about his career, but it would be a surprise — a pleasant one — to see him play again.
“I just spoke to Kris; he’s down, but I think he’ll battle, he’ll come through this,’’ Ryan said. “Obviously it’s a big blow for us. You just feel really bad for Kris, a guy that rehabbed that injury and every day he worked at it.
“It’s part of this business. Unfortunately, injuries happen in this league. It’s 100-percent injury rate in this league. That’s one of the unfortunate things in this business.’’
The loss of Jenkins puts added emphasis on defensive tackles Sione Pouha and Mike DeVito, both of whom had standout performances Monday night. Matt Kroul, in is first NFL season, will also see more action, and when asked if might try to sign a veteran free agent for depth Ryan said, “I will consider that for sure.’’
The Jets’ depth was already hurt when they lost defensive end Ropati Pitoitua (Achilles tendon) for the year in preseason.
Interestingly, when Jenkins blew out that left knee last season, the Jets’ run defense actually got better in the final 10 games of the season.
“We did overcome it last year (because) our defense rallied around the guys who were out there — Sione, Mike DeVito,’’ Ryan said.
What’ll happen, as it did last year, is a number of players will have to fill the role Jenkins played.
“He’s got a physical mismatch against everyone he plays against,’’ Ryan said of the 6-4, 370-pound Jenkins. “There are not too many people walking the face of the earth who are like that — as a big and powerful a man who’s athletic. It’s hard to block him one-on-one.
“We got a lot of good players. We’ve got some guys who can really play here, so we’re confident. We’ve just got to step up and find a way to overcome it just like we did last year.’’
Jenkins had the knee repaired in October with a graft with doctors using a tendon from his hamstring. He looked strong in training camp, particularly after losing nearly 40 pounds.
