The Jets won the game Sunday, but lost a couple of starters.
Wide receiver Quincy Enunwa and safety Marcus Maye both suffered injuries that could keep them out for a few weeks. Enunwa suffered a right high-ankle sprain, according to a source. Maye broke his right thumb, according to a source.
The timelines for both injuries are not definitive, but they likely will result in the players missing at least a few games, a tough blow for the Jets.
Enunwa is the team’s leading receiver with 22 catches and 287 yards. He suffered the injury on the play when he fumbled in the second quarter. He was wearing a walking boot after the game. High-ankle sprains are tough to predict. Some players return fairly quickly; others can be out a long time. It depends on the severity and pain tolerance in many cases.
Maye had a cast on his right hand in the locker room after Sunday’s win. He exited the game in the third quarter. His return will depend on how quickly the bone heals and whether the Jets medical staff can provide him with a wrap or special glove to protect the thumb at some point.
Coach Todd Bowles, during a conference call with reporters Monday, would not confirm Maye had broken the bone. Bowles said Enunwa had an ankle sprain, but would not say how severe it was.
Maye missed the season’s first three games with a foot injury. He returned against the Jaguars and then played well in the Jets’ win over the Broncos the following week. He had a 104-yard interception return at the end of that game, getting tackled at the 1-yard line, making it the longest non-scoring interception return in NFL history.
The Jets played without starting cornerbacks Trumaine Johnson (quad) and Buster Skrine (concussion) in Sunday’s game. It is unclear if either or both will return this week against the Vikings.
Doug Middleton started in place of Maye in the first three games of the year, but Terrence Brooks replaced Maye when he left Sunday’s game. Bowles said that was because Middleton missed some practice time last week and Brooks got more reps.
“The younger guys just have to step up and play,” Bowles said of the banged-up secondary. “Nobody’s going to feel sorry for us. We’ve got guys who we’ve been practicing. They understand what to do and they go out and get a chance to prove themselves.”
Bowles did not provide any update on WR Terrelle Pryor, who left the game with a groin injury.
The Jets went 1-for-6 in the red zone and are the worst team in the NFL, scoring touchdowns on just 30 percent of their red-zone trips.
“We’ve got to keep working at it,” Bowles said. “I like the way we’re moving the ball right now. I’d like to turn some of those field goals into touchdowns. It’s a few tweaks here and there that we’ve got to keep working on and try to get it in.”
RB Elijah McGuire (IR/foot) and safety Rontez Miles (PUP/knee) are both eligible to return to practice this week. Bowles said a decision has not been made on either player.
