Jets lose stalwart offensive lineman for rest of season
The Jets have lost one of their most reliable players for the season. Left guard James Carpenter is being placed on season-ending injured reserve, the team announced Wednesday.
Carpenter, a team captain, injured his shoulder against the Bills on Nov. 11. He missed Sunday’s game against the Patriots. It was the first time he missed a game since he signed with the Jets in 2015. He started 58 straight games for Gang Green before Sunday.
“It’s big,” coach Todd Bowles said. “He’s one of our captains, one of the toughest guys we have on the team.”
Carpenter was signed as a free agent to a four-year, $19.1 million deal in 2015. He spent his first four seasons with the Seahawks, who drafted him in the first round of the 2011 draft.
Spencer Long moved from center to guard, taking Carpenter’s spot, last week, with Jonotthan Harrison taking over at center. The Jets likely will stay with that lineup.
Avery Williamson won’t need any directions getting to the Nashville stadium on Sunday, but finding the visitors’ locker room might be a different story.
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The Jets linebacker is looking forward to his return to Tennessee after spending the first four years of his career with the Titans.
“It’s definitely going to be fun going against my old teammates,” Williamson said Wednesday. “I haven’t seen them since January. It’ll be cool, especially going in on the opposite sideline. It’ll be interesting. Ready to go out there and get a win.”
Williamson has been a solid pickup for the Jets since signing a three-year, $22.5 million contract in March. He has a team-high 89 tackles, six of them for loss, two forced fumbles and an interception.
“It came down to a few things, but at the end of the day, I felt like this was the best fit,” Williamson said.
Trumaine Johnson has not yet lived up to the $72.5 million contract he signed in March. The cornerback missed five games with a quad injury and is still trying to get back in game shape to be more effective down the stretch.
“For me, it’s trying to get the best out of him any way I can,” defensive backs coach Dennard Wilson said. “Right now, he’s coming back from an injury.” defensive backs coach Dennard Wilson said. “I don’t think he was in the greatest shape. He’s getting himself back ready to go. He won’t waver.”
Safety Marcus Maye (shoulder/thumb) did not practice after missing Sunday’s game. Bowles said he was “pretty sore” and they will continue to monitor whether he needs to be placed on injured reserve. … WR Robby Anderson (ankle) and RB Trenton Cannon (hamstring) also did not practice, and WR Quincy Enunwa (ankle) and LB Jordan Jenkins (shoulder) were limited.
The Jets elevated OL Ben Braden from the practice squad to take Carpenter’s spot and signed RB Mark Thompson to the practice squad.
