Rex Ryan was critical of his team’s performance in practice on Thursday.
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With the top team in the AFC North in the Bengals waiting for them on Sunday, the Jets better not be as sloppy as they were in practice Thursday or it could be a long afternoon for the men in green.
Head coach Rex Ryan called out his team on Thursday for their sloppy play on the practice field, an unusual move from a head coach that is consistently upbeat. But Ryan didn’t like what he saw from his team, including a number of bad drops and poor execution.
He wouldn’t use Thursday’s brisk weather, with temperature in the low-50s, as a reason for the sloppy play.
“[We are] still not exactly there, not hitting on everything yet. It’s not a concern, it’s just we know we have to get sharper, we have to get better and tomorrow has to be that way,” Ryan said. “Mentally, I think we’re pretty good but it’s just the execution of some things and the weather can’t be an excuse.”
Ryan clarified that the heart of the issue was on the offensive side of the ball — in particular, a beleaguered receiving corps that has struggled with drops throughout the season.
“We dropped some balls, things like that,” Ryan said. “The execution was not where we wanted it to be.”
Jets notes …
»Wide receiver Santonio Holmes did not practice on Thursday as he continues to struggle with a hamstring injury he suffered in Week 4. A team source tells Metro that Holmes has a “10 percent chance to play” on Sunday.
»Tight end Jeff Cumberland (hamstring), who was unable to practice Wednesday, was limited on Thursday and looks likely for this weekend. In addition, safety Antonio Allen (groin and finger), wide receiver Jeremey Kerley (hamstring), Nick Mangold (ribs), Konrad Reuland (knee) and wide receiver Greg Salas (knee) were all limited. Kerley was a new addition to the list.
“It’s a new injury, a hamstring. It’s not that it kept him out of everything,” Ryan said. “More precaution than anything else.”
»Patriots cornerback Logan Ryan was fined $10,000 for his lewd celebration off his pick-six against the Jets in the second quarter of this past Sunday’s game.
Follow Jets beat writer Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer.
