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Jets News: Antonio Cromartie, Lorenzo Mauldin Injuries Mare Opening Day Win

ByKenneth Teape|

New York Jets News: The Jets were able to pick up a victory over the Cleveland Browns to start their season, but it was not all smiles as they lost two players, Antonio Cromartie and Lorezno Mauldin, to serious injuries.

The New York Jets were able to pick up a decisive win over the Cleveland Browns on opening day, getting their season started on the right foot. They picked the Browns apart and came away feeling good about both sides of the ball. But, it wasn’t all positive for the Jets, who saw two players go down with potentially serious injuries.

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First, cornerback Antonio Cromartie. Cromartie crumbled to the ground during the second quarter, suffering a noncontact injury. Johnny Manziel, who replaced the concussed Josh McCown, scrambled right while Cromartie was defending a receiver on the left. He twisted and the knee looked like it buckled, as he fell to the turf.

The Jets are fearing an injury to the ACL or MCL because of the nature of how it occurred, but were unable to tell during the game. Cromartie is set to undergo X-Rays and a MRI Monday to see the extent of the injury.

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Head coach Todd Bowles, who comes away with a victory in his coaching debut with the Jets may be a loser in the long run if Cromartie’s injury is as severe as some believe it to be. He did not address it following the game, but privately some players were expressing concern for what happened.

Bowles understands how big a loss Cromartie would be though, saying, “It’s a big blow because he’s a good player. We brought him in here to be a good player, but we have a lot of young guys behind him. We have a lot of good corners. It’s one of our deepest positions … We have guys in the building who can go out and play.”

One of those young players is second year player Marcus Williams. Williams, who replaced Cromartie, came up huge for the Jets the remainder of the game. He recorded an interception and also had three passes defended. He could step into a starting role opposite Darrelle Revis if the Jets choose to keep their other key free agent acquisition, Buster Skrine, in the slot where he patrolled against his former team Sunday afternoon.

Sep 13, 2015; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets linebacker Lorenzo Mauldin (55) is carted off the field on a stretcher with team doctors during the second half against the Cleveland Browns at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Danny Wild-USA TODAY Sports

The other injury the Jets suffered looked a lot worse than Cromartie’s which is hard to imagine since his seems to be pretty serious. But, in the second half rookie linebacker Lorenzo Mauldin laid motionless on the turf after making a tackle. Mauldin had to placed on the spinal board to get carried off the field as he wasn’t moving around. He was taken to the hospital, where he received some good news as it was revealed that he did not suffer a neck injury.

For anyone that saw the play, it was a scary thing to witness. Knowing that he avoided a serious neck injury is good to know. But, at the same time, a concussion is nothing to waive off. Mauldin will be held in the hospital overnight for continued observation, but passed all his tests as he has feeling in all his extremities.

Injuries are a horrible thing to happen to players, but is part of the game. We’re hoping for the best for Cromartie and Mauldin, wishing them speedy recovers from their injuries and hopefully seeing them healthy again sooner than later.

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