Jets' Leonhard ready for preseason opener

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Jim Leonhard hasn't played in a game since November, but that all changes Monday night.

Leonhard suffered a broken leg in practice in December, ending his season prematurely and starting him on a lengthy rehab process. But the safety is healthy again and is set to start when the Jets visit the Texans in a nationally televised preseason matchup at Reliant Stadium. The Jets' starters are expected to play the entire first quarter before getting pulled.

"It's been a long process, but I feel great right now,'' Leonhard said Saturday. "It's been nice coming back, and kind of easing me into training camp a little bit, but then the last week, being able to do everything. So I'm really looking forward to getting on the field Monday."

So are his teammates, who felt lost without him in their secondary down the stretch. "We missed him a lot," Darrelle Revis said. "We felt like our season was over with."

Leonhard has looked pretty good in training camp, showing no ill effects. "It feels pretty much as good as it did before," he said. "I haven't had any pain, any swelling, anything like that.''

Extra points

C Nick Mangold (stinger) won't travel to Houston. The status of QB Mark Brunell (finger) is unclear . . . Revis, WR Santonio Holmes, QB Mark Sanchez, DT Sione Pouha and S Eric Smith were named team captains . . . WR Derrick Mason had little reaction to his former team, the Ravens, acquiring WR Lee Evans. "Whatever they need to do," he said. "I'm not concerned with them any longer. I'll be concerned with them in Week 4 or 5 or whenever we play them. I've got a lot of friends over there and I hope they do well . . . I think I'm on the best team in football right now."