Jeremy Ruckert cleared to practice with Jets
New York Jets tight end Jeremy Ruckert participates in drills during an OTA at Atlantic Health Jets Training Center in Florham Park, N.J. Credit: Noah K. Murray
FLORHAM PARK. N.J. – Jeremy Ruckert has been cleared to start practicing with the Jets.
The tight end from Lindenhurst was activated from the Non-Football Injury (NFI) list on Wednesday afternoon. Ruckert was recovering from a foot injury he suffered at the Senior Bowl.
Jets coach Robert Saleh indicated after practice on Wednesday that all indications were that Rucket would be cleared for football activities. The Jets’ third-round pick from Ohio State, Ruckert has been jogging and working on side fields and with strength and conditioning staff while the team has been practicing.
The Jets are not practicing Thursday so Friday would be the first time Ruckert finally can join his teammates on the field.
Running back Tevin Coleman was also activated from the NFI list. Coleman had an illness.
A happy birthday
Zach Wilson, who turned 23 on Wednesday, had his best and most consistent practice of training camp. Wilson completed all of his pass attempts in team drills. He threw a touchdown pass to Tyler Conklin during red-zone drills and tossed a two-point conversion to Elijah Moore.
“The highlight today would be in the red zone where I thought he operated fast,” Saleh said. “Everything is faster down there. A lot of times he’s having a really nice day and then we get into the red zone and then he hits a lull. It’s the red zone periods that have been the sticking point for him and today he was fast. He was deliberate, got rid of the ball, got to his second read on the one with Elijah Moore, so thought he did a really nice job.”
Joe’s still got it
Joe Flacco, 37, has looked sharp in training camp. He will back-up Wilson this season, but Saleh believes Flacco can still be an NFL starter.
“In my opinion, he could start in this league,” Saleh said. “I believe that. Sometimes this league has a tendency to pigeonhole people or put labels on people and then their opportunities get limited, but Joe Flacco is a starting quarterback in this league. He is really, really talented.”
Raise your game
Saleh gathered the team after he felt that players was lagging during a special teams portion of practice and let them know they needed to pick it up. It was right after a six-minute break that the Jets treat like halftime with coaches giving players adjustments. Saleh reminded them they have to play with the same intensity coming out of halftime and he said they practiced harder after that quick meeting.
“A lot of games are lost just by coming out of the locker room with that slight lull, Saleh said. “I thought the guys did a great job responding. The entire practice was really good, except for that little lapse.
Two-minute drill
Michael Carter returned to full participant after being held out of team drills Tuesday with an ankle issue. … Ty Johnson (hamstring) didn’t practice and may not return until next week. Kicker Greg Zuerlein (toe) didn’t practice but Saleh said he should return this weekend.
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
