Jets wide receiver Eric Decker suffered another setback Thursday when he had to stop practicing due to tightness in his right hamstring.
Decker has been dealing with the hamstring problem since training camp and missed most of the game two weeks ago against the Bears because of it.
Decker said he felt sore Thursday morning, but tried to practice. After doing receiver drills, he felt like he could not run full speed and the team shut him down. He sounded uncertain if he will be able to play Sunday against the Chargers.
“I can’t answer that question, to be honest with you,” Decker said. “Some days I feel great. Some days are a little tougher. It’s just gauging and pushing it to the point where it’s enough and it’s successful but it’s not too much.”
It may be time for the Jets to shut Decker down for a few weeks and let the hamstring heal or this could be an ongoing problem all season. Decker said he understands that thought, but is resisting it.
“I don’t think anything’s better than rest, but it’s hard as a competitor to say, I’m just going to do nothing for two weeks,” he said. “I want to be out there. If I can go in any capacity, I want to go.”
Decker is not the only Jets receiver hurting. David Nelson missed practice again Thursday with a sprained left ankle. He has not practiced this week. Nelson said he is optimistic he can play, though. The trainers will test Nelson’s ankle Friday and determine whether he can play.
Owner Woody Johnson said the team will let the legal process play out for practice squad WR Quincy Enunwa, who faces domestic violence charges.
Oddly, Johnson would not divulge whether he would keep a player who is convicted on domestic violence charges on his roster.
“I can’t really comment on that,” Johnson said. “There’s no way to comment on that. There’s all kinds of stakeholders. There’s all kinds of levels. The NFL isn’t the overall on this. This is a societal question.
The NFL is a player, but not the most dominant player. We’re trying to do our job, and it’s something we have to deal with and we will deal with. Hopefully, we’ll deal with it as intelligently and sensitively as we can.”
Offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg said the team could possibly expand the role of rookie TE Jace Amaro…CB Dee Milliner (quad) and S Calvin Pryor (thigh) both practiced fully and are expected to play…Chargers OLB Dwight Freeney (knee) did not practice Thursday after practicing on a limited basis Wednesday.