The Jets’ prized free agent acquisition, Plaxico Burress, has spent the last several days nursing a sore ankle. That same ankle will prevent him from making his debut with Gang Green on Monday night.
Burress had an MRI done Friday, which revealed the 34-year-old receiver has nothing more than a “classic” ankle sprain. He originally suffered the injury on August 3 while running routes with fellow wideout Santonio Holmes.
Despite the fairly minor ailment, coach Rex Ryan has decided that Plax won’t play in the Jets’ preseason opener against the Texans. In fact, he won’t even be traveling with the team to Houston, and will instead receive treatment at home.
However, Ryan admitted that if Monday’s contest were a regular season game, Burress would be suiting up and on the field.
‘My time will come,’ said Burress, who turned 34 today and said the injury was a ‘little soreness, a little irritation. It’ll go away.’
After a 20-month stint behind bars, these types of injures were sure to occur with Burress. It’s smart on the Jets part not to take any chances with him in what amounts to a meaningless exhibition game.
Though, until he proves otherwise, many of his detractors are going to assume Plax can simply not hold up for a full season and will criticize New York accordingly.
