Garrett Wilson limping off the practice field is certainly not a sight Jets fans wanted to see.
It appears they have dodged an early bullet, however.
The standout second-year receiver left practice Thursday afternoon with an ankle injury and was subsequently absent for the majority of team periods.
But coach Robert Saleh was optimistic the injury isn’t serious.
“We were just checking out his ankle,” Saleh said after practice. “All indications are that he’ll be OK. We’re just going through procedure.”
Wilson, the reigning offensive NFL Rookie of the Year after the Jets drafted him 10th overall last year, tweaked his ankle on the second play of 11-on-11s while going up for a roughly 25-yard pass against cornerback D.J. Reed on the left sideline.
Reed broke up the pass and it fell incomplete, and Wilson got back to his feet gingerly and walked toward trainers.
He had gotten off to a fast start at training camp, notably making a highlight-reel, toe-tapping catch in the back end zone for a touchdown on a pass from Aaron Rodgers on Monday.
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Wilson hauled in 83 receptions for 1,103 yards and scored four touchdowns last season, and his burgeoning partnership with Rodgers holds much of the Jets’ hopes on offense this season.
Running back Michael Carter and safety Trey Dean got into it and jawed at each other a bit after Dean kept holding onto Carter after the play was over.
They were quickly separated, as numerous offensive linemen rushed to the area and shouted their displeasure with the play.
The receiver group is growing thinner by the day, as Corey Davis sat out of practice after waking up with an illness, Saleh said.
Allen Lazard did provide the position with a bit of good news, though, returning to practice, albeit limited, after sitting out on Wednesday with a leg injury.
He mostly just participated in the receiver drills.
Zach Wilson completed a couple of nice passes during 11-on-11s as he continues to work with the second unit, notably a touchdown to Irvin Charles and a long completion to Kenny Yeboah.
