SAN DIEGO — The Jets were missing their top wide receiver against the Chargers on Sunday.
Eric Decker, the team’s big free-agent signing this winter, did not play because of a hamstring injury. Decker has been bothered by the injury since training camp and it has repeatedly flared up on him. The latest setback occurred in practice Thursday and he did not practice that day or Friday.
Decker did some agility drills before the game, but after a lengthy conference with the trainer, doctor and general manager John Idzik, they decided not to play him.
“The trainers were like ‘No, he can’t go,’ ” Jets coach Rex Ryan said. “The fact that he made the trip I think is a positive thing, but he wasn’t ready.”
The Jets did have David Nelson, who sprained his ankle last week. Nelson played but was totally ineffective, like the rest of the Jets’ offense. The Jets’ leading receivers were Jeremy Kerley and tight end Jace Amaro, who both had three catches. T.J. Graham, signed last Monday, even played.
“When it’s time for other guys to step up, they’ve got to step up,” quarterback Geno Smith said. “As a quarterback, my job is to be pinpoint accurate with every single throw and my reads need to be spot-on to kind of take care some of the mishaps those guys might have from not having enough reps. Today, I didn’t do a good enough job. I put that completely on myself.”
LB David Harris injured his shoulder in the fourth quarter and will have an MRI exam Monday.
“I hope [it’s] not too serious, but I’m not real sure,” Ryan said. “He’s not a guy that comes out very often. That would be a killer blow if he’s not able to go.”
CB Darrin Walls left the game in the first half with a knee injury and was replaced by Phillip Adams. It may have been the best thing for the Jets because Walls was getting picked on by Chargers’ quarterback Philip Rivers. He gave up a 49-yard pass to Malcom Floyd on the Chargers’ first drive and was targeted after that.
DT Sheldon Richardson left the game with a neck injury, but was able to return. NT Damon Harrison left with an ankle injury, but returned as well.
The Jets had lost three consecutive games eight times under Ryan, but this is the first four-game losing streak of his head coaching career. … The 1-4 start is the team’s worst start since 2007 when they started 1-8. … OLB Calvin Pace was one of the few Jets to have a good game. Pace recorded two sacks in the game. … Rookie OLB IK Enemkpali was active for the first time this season. … The Jets had nine defensive backs active and just four defensive linemen …. Besides Decker, the other Jets inactives were: WR Chris Owusu, LB A.J. Edds, OL Dakota Dozier, OT Ben Ijalana, NT Kenrick Ellis and NT T.J. Barnes.
