Jets’ Henry Anderson doesn’t think leveling kicker was illegal

Jets defensive end Henry Anderson is not a popular man in Buffalo this week.

Anderson hit Bills kicker Stephen Hauschka after a blocked field-goal attempt just before halftime in the Jets’ 27-23 win. Hauschka injured his lower back and hip on the play and missed a 54-yard field goal badly in the second half.

Bills coach Sean McDermott criticized Anderson for the hit, saying, “There’s no place in our game for plays like that.

“I don’t think it was illegal or anything like that,” Anderson said Wednesday. “I think I hit him from the side. I kept my head out of it. I don’t really know what else I’m supposed to do right there unless they don’t want me to block him at all and potentially he makes the play.”

Anderson said Hauschka was going to try to tackle Terrence Brooks, who recovered the blocked field goal after teammate Rontez Miles initially fumbled it.

“From my perspective, his kick gets blocked, he becomes a defensive player by pursuing the ball carrier,” Anderson said. “We’re not on the other side of the field. He’s 10 yards in front of where our ball carrier is running to. In my eyes, he’s positioning himself to make a tackle.”

While Anderson has a point, it did appear Hauschka was more than 10 yards away from the ball and he looked to be staying away from the pile when Anderson drilled him.

“I think there’s a fine line there,” Jets special teams coach Brant Boyer said. “The kickers are coming over to make a play. I’d be mad too if I was him, to be honest with you. If they hit my kicker like that I’d be pretty upset. But do I think it was a dirty play? No. I think it’s borderline.”

Boyer said he checked on Hauschka after halftime and later sent a message to Bills special teams coach Danny Crossman.

The end zones at MetLife Stadium for Saturday’s game against the Texans will not have a Jets logo because the Giants play there Sunday at 1 p.m. The Jets game is at 4:30 and there won’t be enough turnaround time for the grounds crew, especially with rain expected this weekend. The end zones will be neutral for both games.

RB Isaiah Crowell (toe), OLB Jordan Jenkins (ankle/shoulder), WR Quincy Enunwa (ankle), OLB Jeremiah Atta ochu (concussion) and TE Chris Herndon (not injury related) did not practice Wednesday.