Jets Q&A: Lingering hamstring injury sidelines Eric Decker

Why couldn't Eric Decker play?

For the second consecutive week, the Jets' top receiver did agility drills under the watchful eyes of the trainers. But Decker, who was a game-time decision Sunday in San Diego, was ruled inactive because of a lingering hamstring injury.

"The trainers said he can't go,'' Rex Ryan said. "The fact that he made the trip, I think, is a positive thing. But he wasn't ready.''

It was the first time Decker missed a regular-season game since his rookie year in Denver (2010). He was cleared to play last week against the Lions after testing his hamstring during warmups, but he was ruled out in the second half after he felt tightness.

David Nelson (sprained ankle), who also was a game-time decision, was declared active. He was targeted four times and caught one pass for 9 yards. Nelson was spotted limping badly in the locker room.

Jeremy Kerley had a team-high three catches for 24 yards.

Were there any other injuries?

David Harris hurt his shoulder while tackling Branden Oliver in the fourth quarter and did not return. Ryan did not provide an update on Harris but noted that the linebacker rarely has to come out of a game.

Cornerback Darrin Walls, who was targeted early and often by Philip Rivers, left with a knee injury and did not return. Damon Harrison left with 9:05 to play in the third quarter but returned shortly thereafter. Sheldon Richardson was forced to leave the game with a neck injury but also returned to action.

What happened on Chris Johnson's second-quarter fumble?

The Jets finally recorded their first interception of the season, but the feel-good vibes didn't last long. On the very next play, running back Chris Johnson fumbled and the Chargers recovered at the Jets' 20.

As he fell, Johnson said he didn't see Chargers lineman Ricardo Mathews coming from behind to poke out the ball.

"It was very tough,'' Johnson said, reiterating the importance of keeping the ball high and tight. "I feel like that was a turning point in the game, where the defense made a nice play and to go right back out there and give them the ball so close to the end zone, that was a huge mistake.''

Said Ryan: "That never helped, that's for sure. At the time, we were down 7-0. We had been getting our tails kicked, but we were hanging in there.''

Speaking of the interception, what did Phillip Adams have to say about his pick?

"I saw the ball in the air. I turned around and got it,'' said Adams, a recent cornerback pickup who made his fourth career interception and first as a Jet.

On first-and-10 at the Jets' 22, Rivers tried to hit Keenan Allen in the end zone, but Adams picked it off at the goal line.

"He's aggressive when he gets up in the air,'' Adams said of Allen. "I had to try and snatch it from him because he was going to try to grab it out of my hands.''

The Jets entered the game with a league-high 14 sacks but no interceptions.

Why was Kenrick Ellis inactive again?

The Jets' backup nose tackle was inactive for the second straight game. Last week, Ryan said he wanted to see youngster T.J. Barnes in action, but Ryan said the heat was an issue Sunday and that he wanted to have players with better endurance (such as linebacker IK Enemkpali) available.

Because of the heat and humidity, the Jets had crew members holding shade tarps over each bench and utilized big fans on the sideline.