The Jets lost a key piece on the first day of training camp.
Running back Elijah McGuire fractured a bone in his foot during Friday’s practice and will be sidelined for a while. Coach Todd Bowles would not say exactly how long McGuire will be out, but the injury is expected to require surgery. That should keep him out for a long time.
“I’m sure it’s tough for him going into his second year,” Bowles said. “Any time somebody gets hurt it’s a tough break. But he’s a hard worker, and we expect him to be back as soon as he is ready.”
A sixth-round pick in 2017, McGuire gained 315 yards on 88 carries and had one rushing touchdown. He also had 17 catches for 177 yards and a score. He had a strong spring, and running backs coach Stump Mitchell compared him to Hall of Famer LaDainian Tomlinson.
The Jets worked out a few running backs Saturday, but Bowles said they did not necessarily have to sign someone immediately. Former Redskins and Cowboys running back Alfred Morris worked out for them, according to a source. The NFL Network also reported former Giants running back Orleans Darkwa worked out.
“We may [sign one],” Bowles said. “We’ll see. We’ve got enough right now. We’ve got a couple of fullbacks that can do a few things. Depending on the roster, we may or may not.”
Sunday will be the Jets’ first practice in pads. That is always a fun day for the players to start hitting.
“The pads come on,” safety Jamal Adams said. “It’s time. That’s football.”
Bowles said he won’t be looking for players to be drilling each other. He wants to see strong technique.
“You’ve got to get fundamentals and technique down because you haven’t had them on in a long time,” Bowles said. “So individual periods, that will be more or less what we’re looking for, as far as stepping the right way, getting the right block, getting the right fit, doing the right things. The team stuff will come, but individually, we have to make sure we’re teaching it the right way and they’re doing it the right way.”
The Jets cut DL Courtney Upshaw, who had started training camp on the non-football injury list. It sounds like he failed his conditioning test. They signed DL Shaneil Jenkins to take his spot.
Second-year LB Dylan Donahue had a good day, registering two sacks (if they had been allowed to tackle the quarterback). Donahue could emerge in the Jets’ search for an outside pass rusher.
Practice was ragged. It was hot and it was the second day, so that explains a little. But the Jets did not look crisp, particularly on offense, where there were a lot of dropped passes and uneven play.
Second-year CB Derrick Jones had a nice practice. He had an interception off Josh McCown in 7-on-7 drills and should have had another one in team drills but he was ruled out of bounds in the end zone by the referee.
Where’s Sam? That was the question the Jets had to be asking after this one. Both McCown and Teddy Bridgewater looked shaky. There were a lot of misfires and it did not look like either got in a rhythm. They may be sore from having to throw so many passes as the only quarterbacks in camp.
WR Quincy Enunwa (neck) practiced without a red no-contact jersey for the first time, a positive sign for him. … WR Terrelle Pryor (ankle) and safety Marcus Maye (ankle) continue to be held out of team drills.