A.J. Schable returned to Jets’ practice today, far sooner than he expected.
The Jets’ first preseason game ended early for Schable after a startling head-on collision with Browns offensive lineman Cliff Louis. The incident occurred while Schable was trying to make a tackle on kickoff return and delayed the game for several minutes.
After the hit, Schable thought his career might be over.
“At first, a minute into it, I was like, ‘I’m done playing.’ I was just thinking the worst. Once I started getting the tingling back, I got reassured,” Schable said.
Special teams is where Schable likely will see most of his snaps as he is at the tail end of a log jam at the tight end position. Schable, in his second year out of South Dakota, is behind incumbent Chris Baker, free agent pickup Bubba Franks and rookie Dustin Keller.
The collision, which got a lot of play on “SportsCenter,” is not how Schable wants to make highlight reels.
“That’s exactly what my agent said. He said, ‘That’s not the way I want my guys on ‘SportsCenter!’ ” Schable said.
Schable was released from a Cleveland hospital that night and diagnosed with a concussion. He said he has not watched the play, yet.
“I didn’t see it on ESPN,” he said.
“My mom is the one that told me about it. She was watching the Arizona game and she saw my name go across the bottom line that I got carried off on a stretcher. She was freaking out. They taped it, so I’m going to have to watch it when I get a chance.”