MIAMI – With the Jets starting receiving corps banged up, tight end Chris Baker could be a big factor in today’s game.
Starting receiver Jerricho Cotchery didn’t practice all week with an undisclosed injury to his right index finger, and fellow starter Laveranues Coles, who missed last week’s game with a sprained left ankle, was limited in practice during the week.
That means Justin McCareins and inexperienced Brad Smith will receive a lot of playing time.
Baker, who arguably has the best hands of any receiver on the team, has had a strong season, catching 24 passes and three touchdowns.
“I really like what Chris has done,” Eric Mangini said. “Chris has made progress over the course of two years with the route running. He has a good feel for getting open against man coverage. At the top of the route, there’s so much that you have to do to really separate, and Chris has done some nice things there.”
Added Coles: “He has great size and great hands and is very athletic. He brings us the total package.”
The Jets will need that total package if Coles is limited and Cotchery cannot play.
“I’ve been playing with these guys the last few years,” Baker said. “I’m not happy that they’re not on the field. I just have to go out and get more involved in more plays. I want to be more involved. I’ve had that chance the last two weeks, and I’m trying to make the best of it.
“The team’s season has obviously not been very good. It’s the first time I’ve been with a team with this record, and I’m trying to work through it.”
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Dolphins DT Vonnie Holliday said he knows what to expect out of the Miami “home” crowd today when the Jets and Dolphins play, and he doesn’t like it.
“That’s the worst part about being in Miami – the Jets fans down here,” Holliday said. “Unfortunately, as a Dolphins player, you’re going to go into your home stadium and there are going to be a lot of Jets fans there. Hopefully our Dolphins fans will show up and be supportive and I’m sure they will, because we expect to go out and work hard and get our first win.
“It would be sweet to go out against the Jets this weekend and make that happen. You don’t know what you’re going to get at Dolphins Stadium this time of year.”
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The Dolphins are trying to avoid becoming the seventh team in NFL history to open a season 0-12. The last team to start 0-12 was the 2001 Lions, who finished 2-14. The 1980 Saints began 0-14 before beating the Jets. More recently, the 1991 Colts got their one win of the season against the Jets after an 0-9 start.
Holliday said he wants to end the talk of 0-16.
“Every time we turn on the news, everybody’s talking about how we’re going to be the first team to go 0-16,” Holliday said. “We don’t want that mark. We felt that we let one slip away in the first meeting [a 31-28 loss to the Jets in Week 3].”
The Jets have won the last three meetings with the Dolphins and six of seven.