New York Jets Center Nick Mangold Suffers Setback
New York Jets center Nick Mangold has suffered a setback and looks doubtful to play this weekend against the Los Angeles Rams.
The New York Jets have been able to count on Nick Mangold to be in their lineup throughout his career. He missed only four games the first 10 seasons of his career. But, he has already missed two this season and it looks like he will miss a third this weekend.
Mangold has been sidelined the past two games against the Cleveland Browns and Miami Dolphins. Mangold was preparing to return to practice last week in preparation for the game against the Dolphins. He had gotten out of the walking boot and was trending in the right direction.
But, he suffered a setback last week. He never returned to practice and missed the game against the Dolphins. Now it looks like he will miss his third consecutive game this season against the Los Angeles Rams.
Mangold is back in a walking boot and doesn’t look like he will get on the field. He blames it on himself, as he went too hard during his rehab and re-injured the foot. Here is what Mangold said when talking to reporters Thursday, the first time he has talked to the media since the injury.
More from New York Jets
- Caesars New York Promo Code: Win $250 Bonus GUARANTEED on ANY Bet!
- New York Jets: It’s Time to Move on from Sam Darnold
- How Adam Gase and Joe Judge Can Succeed in 2020
- New York Jets Still have Elite Talent in Running Back Le’Veon Bell
- New York Jets: C.J. Mosley Opts Out of 2020 NFL Season
“It was part of my own stupidity,” Mangold said. “I was trying to do too much, too soon. I’m not very good at listening to doctors. I hear what they say, but I’m just not good at listening.”
In addition to being in the walking boot, Mangold is dealing with some knee soreness. The Jets are hoping that he can return this season. They are on bye following the game against the Rams, so November 27th against the New England Patriots is a logical target date. That would make it about five weeks of healing; if he is unable to return at that point his season would be in serious jeopardy.
This is rare air for Mangold. Normally he is a quick healer; it is what helped him stay on the field for all those games throughout his career. It is something he is trying to get used to.
“That’s what has been difficult,” he said. “I’ve always trended in the right direction. As soon as I’d get injured, the next day was the worst I felt, then I always got better. To go backward has been difficult. … It is getting better, slowly but surely.”
Mangold is 32-years old and has only one year left on his contract with a $9.1 million cap hit. There is no guarantee that the Jets bring him back at that number as they are heading towards a roster upheaval.
Next: Was Asking Price Too High For Sheldon Richardson?
It would be a disappointing end to his Jets tenure but there is a chance that it will happen. The NFL is a business and we have seen it in the past. The Jets also have a younger, cheaper player already on the roster in Wes Johnson that they like. He has been playing for Mangold the past two weeks while he was sidelined.