Antonio Cromartie Injury: Roller Coaster Season Will Only Get Worse for Jets CB

The New York Jets were beat up by the Oakland Raiders in Week 3. The Silver and Black, for one afternoon, were dishing out pain just like the old days.

One Jet in particular, Antonio Cromartie, did almost as much damage to himself as the Raiders though.

Cromartie committed four well-publicized penalties for 46 yards and muff-fumble-kicked a return attempt that ultimately wound up in the Raiders' hands. He then suffered an injury that couldn't even be X-rayed at the Raiders' facility.

According to ESPN New York:

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The team called it a rib injury, giving no other details, but a league source confirmed reports that Cromartie suffered a bruised lung. He was in severe pain after the game and didn't talk to reporters. The chances of him playing next Sunday night against the Baltimore appear highly unlikely.

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The dismal Week 3 performance comes one week after Cromartie was awarded AFC Defensive Player of the Week for his two interception performance against the Jaguars.

But even that performance came on the heels of an ugly Week 1 outing that saw him beat twice by the Cowboys for touchdowns.

This injury won't help at all, and life opposite Darrelle Revis is difficult enough as it is.

Having to play while having severe pain in one's chest would be difficult for anyone, let alone a guy who has to chase down receivers regularly.

As stated earlier, it appears as of now that Cromartie won't be on the field in Week 4.

While he's often one of the most targeted defensive backs in the league because of Revis' presence, his eventual return will be greeted with even more passes than usual.

It won't take long quarterbacks to find him, and he's going to have to show up with more consistency immediately upon his return to the lineup.

The Jets haven't looked great this year, and Cromartie is dealing with a roller coaster season of his own.

Don't expect the highs and lows to stop any time soon with an extra emphasis on the lows.