Rookie nose tackle Kenrick Ellis, still not fully healed from an ankle injury he suffered in the first quarter of the Week 7 comeback win over San Diego, was once again held out of practice on Wednesday. He hopes to be ready for Sunday’s game in Buffalo though.
Along with defensive end Mike DeVito, who also did not practice with a knee injury and missed the Chargers game, Ellis did what he called “agility” training during practice rather than wearing pads and practicing with the team. Sporting a taped-up ankle in the locker room, Ellis told Metro that the ankle is getting better and he’s hopeful he might be able to practice on Thursday.
“I’ll be ready to play and help the team. I should be able to play,” Ellis told Metro. “It’s just up to the coaches and trainers then to decide if they think I’m ready and how they want to use me.”
Ellis was asked to put a percentage on how he feels right now, but he wasn’t prepared to play the numbers game quite yet.
“I don’t know about a percentage. I don’t really think there is a percentage, it’s just about feeling better,” Ellis said. “Which I do, I feel a lot better and I continue to get better. That’s really what’s important.”
Ellis, a third-round pick out of Hampton, made his NFL debut in a Week 6 win over Miami and had three tackles. He registered another tackle two weeks ago before leaving the game when he rolled his ankle while joining teammate Calvin Pace in making a hit on a Chargers player.
“I just want to get back out there, I do feel like I’m contributing right now to the team,” Ellis said. “Hopefully I am getting better and getting closer to getting back out there. I’m taking it day-by-day.”
Follow Jets beat writer Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer for breaking news and injury updates.
