New York Jets Getting Healthy Headed into Second Quarter of Schedule

The bye week came early for the New York Jets, but it might have been just the right time. 

Weeks 1 through 4 saw the Jets lose key pieces on both sides of the ball for varying timeframes. Cornerback Antonio Cromartie, linebacker David Harris, safety Calvin Pryor, wide receiver Eric Decker, guard Willie Colon, tight end Jeff Cumberland and running back Chris Ivory are among the big names who have been missing for some length of time due to injury.

Player	Participation	Injury
Jaiquawn Jarrett	Did not practice	Knee
Antonio Cromartie	Did not practice	Groin/not injury related
Chris Owusu	Did not practice	Knee
Marcus Williams	Did not practice	Hamstring
Willie Colon	Limited	Knee
Jeff Cumberland	Limited	Concussion
David Harris	Limited	Quadricep
Jamari Lattimore	Limited	Concussion
Bilal Powell	Limited	Groin
Dion Bailey	Full participation	Elbow
Quinton Coples	Full participation	Elbow
Eric Decker	Full participation	Knee
Chris Ivory	Full participation	Quadricep
Calvin Pryor	Full participation	Knee
Darrin Walls	Full participation	Hamstring
Muhammad Wilkerson	Full participation	Ribs
Leonard Williams	Full participation	Ankle

Only two of those players were listed on Thursday's injury report: Cromartie (groin) and Harris (quadricep), and both were limited participants in Wednesday's practice. Cromartie was held out on Thursday for what Bowles called "maintenance," which falls in line with the player's comments earlier this season.

"I'm learning my lesson from 2013, when I probably should've sat out a couple of weeks with my hip injury," Cromartie said ahead of the Jets' Monday night victory over the Indianapolis Colts in Week 3, according to Abraham Gutierrez of CBS New York. "You take a lot of pride in [the streak], and you want to go out and start and not miss a game. But, me being a 10-year corner, you have to think a little smarter about what you’re doing."

Harris, on the other hand, looks like he's "running around well," according to Bowles, and there are other players who are on the mend.

Decker (knee), Ivory (quadricep) and Pryor (bruised knee) all fully participated in practice on Wednesday and Thursday. Defensive ends Muhammad Wilkerson (ribs) and Leonard Williams (sprained ankle) also fully participated, though Wilkerson's injury was described by Bowles as just "soreness." Colon (sprained knee) and Cumberland (concussion) were both limited, but there's a good chance both players could return this week.

We saw how bad the offense looked without Decker and Ivory, and conversely, how much better they looked when those two returned. Harris and Pryor are two big playmakers in the middle of the defense, so their health is vital to the Jets' ability to stop the run.

Having all those players back will be a big boost to the Jets, and the prognosis appears to be about as good as it can be. 

But injured players aren't the only ones making a comeback for the Jets.

As everyone is well aware by now, Jets defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson is making his comeback from a four-game suspension. If a returning All-Pro defensive lineman isn't enough to give this team a boost, nothing is. 

But a stroke of good health is exactly what the Jets need. They are entering a grueling 12-game stretch in which they do not have a bye—a stretch that could extend to 13 games or more depending on if they make the playoffs, and how far they make it.

In two weeks, though, the Jets will have one of their two most important games on the remaining schedule when they travel to Foxborough, Mass. to take on the New England Patriots. That being said, the Jets have to be careful not to get too far ahead of themselves and overlook their next opponent, the Washington Redskins.

Maybe the Jets could have gotten by without the bye week, but there are still some advantages to it coming so early. With everyone getting back to full health, the stretch run will be much more manageable. 

Unless otherwise noted, all quotes obtained via team news release.