Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson avoided a major injury to his knee on Sunday, but he still could miss time.
Wilson missed Wednesday’s practice, and it’s too early to know if he will miss Sunday’s game against the Panthers.
“We’ll see how he progresses during the week,” coach Aaron Glenn said, via Dennis Waszak Jr. of the Associated Press.
Wilson reportedly hyperextended his knee.
The Jets’ leading receiver has 36 catches for 395 yards and four touchdowns.
Wide receiver Josh Reynolds (hip) also didn’t practice on Wednesday.
Allen Lazard, Tyler Johnson and rookie Arian Smith are the only healthy wide receivers on the active roster, and they have a combined four catches this season. Brandon Smith, Trenton Irwin, Jamaal Pritchett and Isaiah Williams are on the practice squad.
Linebacker Cam Jones (hip) and cornerback Qwan’tez Stiggers (hip) also didn’t practice.
Cornerback Michael Carter II (concussion) and linebacker Ja’Markis Weston (groin) were full participants.
The Panthers have gotten huge games from running back Rico Dowdle in back-to-back wins over the last two weeks and they could have another backfield option available for this Sunday’s game against the Jets.
Chuba Hubbard took part in Wednesday’s practice on a limited basis. Hubbard missed the last two weeks with a calf injury, which opened the door to Dowdle and he made the most of the opportunity by picking up 473 yards from scrimmage.
It’s unclear how the Panthers would split up the workload with Hubbard available, but there are worse problems than having two productive backs available.
Right tackle Taylor Moton also returned to practice on Wednesday. He missed last Sunday’s win over the Cowboys with an elbow injury.
Moton, cornerback Akayleb Evans (hamstring), cornerback Jaycee Horn (shoulder), tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders (ankle), and defensive tackle Tershawn Wharton (toe) were listed as limited along with Hubbard. Edge rusher Patrick Jones (back) did not practice while wide receiver Jalen Coker (quad) and center Austin Corbett (knee) were full participants as they work their way back from injured reserve.
Jets quarterback Justin Fields took nine sacks while going 9-of-17 for 45 yards in last Sunday’s 13-11 loss to the Broncos in London, which led to questions for head coach Aaron Glenn about a potential quarterback change.
Glenn acknowledged that Fields “took a step back” by posting -10 net passing yards while sticking with the quarterback and Fields identified an area where he can make improvements during a Wednesday press conference. Fields has been criticized for holding the ball too long and he appears to agree with that critique as he moves toward a Week 7 game against the Panthers.
“I feel like I’ve been a little too conservative in a sense,” Fields said. “Probably just be a little bit more aggressive. I’ve always just been big on ball security and not putting the ball in jeopardy, but it comes to a point where you have to find that healthy balance between — maybe fit it in smaller windows and just let it rip.”
Fields has not thrown an interception this season, but that’s of little comfort for an 0-6 team that will need more from the quarterback position to pick up its first win of the season.
The Panthers called on Ryan Fitzgerald at the end of both halves of last Sunday’s game against the Cowboys and the kicker came through both times.
Fitzgerald hit a 55-yard kick at the end of the first half to move the Panthers within four points of Dallas at the break and then he hit a 33-yarder as time expired to give the Panthers a 30-27 win.
Fitzgerald hit another field goal in the game and also made all three extra points he tried to help the Panthers win their second straight game.
That outing earned Fitzgerald the NFC special teams player of the week award on Wednesday. It’s a first for the rookie, who is now 10-of-11 on field goals and 12-of-13 on extra points this season.
Panthers head coach Dave Canales said earlier this week that he expected offensive lineman Austin Corbett back at practice this week and the team made things official on Wednesday morning.
They designated Corbett for return from injured reserve. Corbett has been out since Week 2 with a knee injury.
Corbett can practice for the next 21 days before reaching a deadline to be activated. He won’t be able to return if that doesn’t happen in the three-week window, but can be added to the 53-man roster at any point.
Corbett started at center in the first two games of the season, but also has experience at guard. Cade Mays has been starting at center in his absence.
