Dimitri Patterson was suspended for his unexcused absence last Friday.
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Jets cornerback Dimitri Patterson was back at the team facility on Monday, only to be sent back out the doors again.
Speaking to reporters during Monday’s practice, general manager John Idzik said the cornerback will be suspended indefinitely after he went missing in action prior to the Jets third preseason game this past Friday night against the Giants.
Termed an “unexcused absence” by Idzik on a Sunday conference call, Patterson met with Idzik and head coach Rex Ryan on Sunday night to try and clear the air.
Patterson was signed as a free agent this offseason but has battled injuries and has struggled in training camp and preseason.
“He will be suspended indefinitely,” Idzik said on Monday. “It will give us a little time to gather more information around what led to his behavior and I think that way we feel we’ll make a very well-informed decision as to what discipline will be coming, and there will be disciplined involved.”
The time with Patterson on Sunday night was called a “listening session” by Idzik. He would not divulge why Patterson went missing.
Moving forward, Idzik said he wants to decipher if Patterson is “all-in” with the Jets, mentally and emotionally. The team is also trying to make sense of his actions.
“Dimitri felt that he acted appropriately but until we discussed it last night, you don’t understand,” Idzik said. “To be honest, we’re still trying to understand what went behind it. I’d rather not characterize it.”
Clearly, the Jets aren’t willing to take Patterson’s pitch at face value.
For now, the team’s management will busy themselsves with investigating before making a further decision. The fall-out could trickle down to Week 1 with the secondary depleted and the cornerback position lacking high-end talent. Dee Milliner did not practice on Monday as he rode the exercise bike and Antonio Allen sat out following a concussion suffered last Friday.
Dexter McDougle is done for the year and Kyle Wilson received some treatment on Monday from the training staff on what appeared to be his left ankle. Patterson was set to play a big part for the Jets, at least early in the season. Now he’s on the outside looking in.
“I think the current suspension, the indefinite suspension, will be brief,” Idzik said. “It just allows us some time to gather information so that we can make a decision that is best for the team.”
Follow Jets beat writer Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer.
