Kicker Greg Zuerlein mysteriously popped up on the injury report Tuesday with a left knee injury and the Jets placed him on injured reserve a day later.
It seems odd that he suddenly got an injury on the same day the Jets were auditioning his replacements.
It feels like the Jets invented an injury to stash a struggling player on IR rather than cutting him.
Jets interim coach Jeff Ulbrich did not give an explanation that would quiet those suspicions.
“He was out there training, doing his normal kicking routine, and some things came up medically, so we thought the best decision was put him on IR, and give him an opportunity to get healthy,” Ulbrich said.
The Jets had lots of feel-good moments in Thursday’s win over the Texans, but the fumbled would-be touchdown by rookie Malachi Corley still lingers.
Corley was about to score a touchdown on an 18-yard run at the start of the second quarter but he flipped the ball behind him before crossing the goal line.
The play was initially ruled a touchdown and then replay showed he fumbled.
Ulbrich said it is a lesson for Corley to learn from.
“Never make it close, like we don’t put anything in the hands of the ref, ever,” Ulbrich said, “so that is 100 percent on us as coaches, making sure we emphasize it, and the player executing that like, you squeeze that ball hard enough to pop it until you absolutely are in the end zone, and I’m talking that would have been his first touchdown, so that’s a ball he should’ve kept anyway, you know?
“Shouldn’t have dropped it anyway, so not acceptable, he knows it, and it’ll be something he learns from and grows from, and be better because of.”
Corley was not in the locker room after the game when reporters were allowed in.
A day later, Ulbrich was still marveling at the one-handed touchdown catch by Garrett Wilson.
“Oh, my goodness, like one of the historic plays in all of football,” Ulbrich said, “and to see that live is so special, and I’m so happy for Garrett, because it’s just another piece to his evolution and his growth as a player, and a man, and a player, and a teammate.”
Ulbrich was also less than forthcoming on WR Allen Lazard’s chest injury that landed him on IR.
Ulbrich claims he does not know the specifics of the injury, which is laughable.
“It was just a decision we made based upon a really funky injury, just want to make sure we didn’t rush him back,” Ulbrich said.
Ulbrich had no updates on the players who were injured during the game — CB Michael Carter (back), LG John Simpson (groin) and RG Jake Hanson (hamstring).
