MIAMI – Thomas Jones scored a touchdown yesterday.
Why is that news?
Because he had gone 225 carries and 20 receptions – 245 total touches on offense – without scoring his first touchdown as a Jet.
On his 226th carry of the season, Jones scored from a yard out to give the Jets a 30-13 lead.
“Long overdue,” Jones said. “Hopefully, before the end of the year I can get into end zone a few more times.”
Jones, after being mobbed by his teammates in the end zone, kept the ball.
“That was my first touchdown here, so it was a special situation,” he said. “I’ve done that with the four teams I’ve been with, kept the football.”
Jones’ teammates seemed happier for his first touchdown than he was.
“Thomas has been grinding all year,” Kellen Clemens said. “It was much overdue to get him in the end zone. It’s good to see him be rewarded for all the tough yards he’s had to grind out for us.”
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Clemens, 2-3 as a starter, entered the game not knowing if either of his starting wide receivers would play. Jerricho Cotchery (finger) didn’t play. Laveranues Coles (ankle) was a game-time decision and did play, leading the Jets with five catches for 69 yards.
“L.C. is a courageous player,” Clemens said. “To go through what he went through and to come out and play, he gave us some very meaningful snaps.
“I didn’t know if he was going to play right up until game time,” Clemens added. “One thing about L.C. that you know is that if he’s cleared to go and allowed to play he’s going to give it his all and he’s going to look good.”
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Jets kicker Mike Nugent made all four of his field-goal attempts yesterday and had a career high in field goals and points with 16. He’s made 17 of his last 18 tries with the one miss a 54-yarder.
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Jets CB Drew Coleman had his first career interception. . . . WR Chris Davis had his first career reception. . . . LB Marques Murrell, the brother of former Jets’ RB Adrian, made his debut as a Jet.