JET NOTES
Still in search of a punt return man, it looks as if the Jets might have to settle on Dedric Ward, who handled the duties last season.
Al Groh said yesterday that he wants to look at Ward along with rookies Tony Scott and Windrell Hayes, beginning with Ward, in tomorrow’s preseason game in Baltimore.
“We’ll start the game with Ward and then see where that goes,” Groh said. “He’s the one who’s been back there before. I obviously want to have him ready, and the only way (the rookies) are going to learn how to do it is to be in there doing it.
“Whether that makes them a punt returner this year or in mid-season, they’ve got to get the turns there if they’re going to be able to do it in this league.”
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Groh won’t say it for certain, but there’s little reason to believe CB Aaron Glenn will play tomorrow with his sprained left ankle still appearing to be tender. Glenn, who came down wrong on it in Tuesday’s practice and hasn’t practiced since, said yesterday he didn’t know exactly what’s wrong with it.
That means a start for nickel back Ray Mickens, who’s embracing the idea of getting a start.
“Saturday is going to be a real advantage for me to play outside and the inside in the nickel,” Mickens said yesterday.
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Highlights from yesterday’s afternoon practice included a couple of terrific receptions by Richie Anderson, who made a one-handed snare over the middle of a Ray Lucas pass in traffic that surely would have been intercepted otherwise, and an over-the-shoulder catch along the sideline, beating rookie LB John Abraham … FB Jerald Sowell beat LB Mo Lewis for a TD catch from Lucas … Later, Wayne Chrebet caught a wobbly, but well-timed scoring pass from rookie Chad Pennington. … Moments later, Mickens picked off Pennington in the middle of the field … Later still, Pennington hooked up with TE Blake Spence for a score in the red zone … Rookie RB Vaughn Sanders fumbled a carry away to rookie Richard Seals … Fourth-string QB Jim Kubiak, who’s been fairly impressive, but will become a numbers-game victim before camp is over, connected with Hayes for a TD late in practice.
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DE Dorian Boose, who’s often accused of being a little soft and “too nice a guy,” got into a scuffle with backup T Jeff Pilon in yesterday’s practice, at one point appearing to knee Pilon in the groin before the fight was broken up … Glenn (ankle), DT Jason Wiltz (elbow), RB Bernie Parmalee (foot) and WR Yatil Green (groin) did not practice and are not expected to play tomorrow. DE Anthony Cook, however, returned to practice after missing the last seven practices and is expected to play and battle Shane Burton for a job at right DE … Scott Frost gets his start at free safety tomorrow and will play the first eight plays of the rotation with Omar Stoutmire and Kevin Williams … There is no practice today as the Jets travel to Baltimore. They’re scheduled to return to the practice field at 2:20 p.m. Monday.
