Terrelle Pryor hopes to take part in Jets drills soon, says ‘this is the first time I’ve felt this good in a year’
Jets wide receiver Terrelle Pryor catches the football during training camp at Atlantic Health Jets Training Center on Friday. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Terrelle Pryor couldn’t take part in team drills Friday, but he could pretend he did.
Pryor, who was limited to side work after having ankle surgery last year, instead spent that time Friday lining up 6 or 7 yards behind the plays, listening in on the huddle and preparing for a few days from now, when he hopes to finally be 100 percent back to action.
“This is the first time I’ve felt this good in a year,” said the wideout, whom the Jets signed to a one-year contract in the offseason. “This is the first time I actually feel pretty good about myself cutting and stuff without thinking, so I’m just going to keep following their plan and hopefully when I get back, I can play at full speed.”
Pryor said he was heavily restricted during minicamp because he couldn’t put any pressure on his leg, so with the blessing of the coaching staff, he’s allowed to hover around the team drills. Pryor said that if all goes well, he could see team action in four days.
“It’s the best you can do, you know, but I’m trying,” said Pryor, who had 20 catches for 240 yards and a touchdown in nine games with the Redskins last season. “I’m just glad I feel this good, to tell you the truth. I don’t even want to see the days that I had last year just being unfocused because of injury. It was a pretty horrible feeling and I don’t wish that on any athlete . . . I want to be dominant, and the only way I can do that is if I’m healthy.”
Stewart suspended
The NFL officially suspended Jets receiver ArDarius Stewart two games without pay for violating its performance-enhancing drug policy. He still can participate in preseason practices and games. Stewart joins Rashard Robinson (four games for a marijuana-related arrest last year) as Jets suspended this week.
“You don’t want that type of thing happening on your team and we don’t like that environment that we have where you’re in the news for the wrong reason,” coach Todd Bowles said.
Injury list
Safety Marcus Maye (ankle) did not participate in team drills. Defensive lineman Courtney Upshaw started training camp on the NFI (non-football injury) list, though Bowles said the injury was not serious. Safety Rontez Miles (knee) was the only Jet listed on the PUP (physically unable to perform) list. Wide receiver Quincy Enunwa (neck) participated in team drills but was limited to non-contact work.
