Carl Lawson’s back might not allow him to get back on the field in time for the Jets’ season opener.
Head coach Robert Saleh — typically optimistic with injury forecasts — didn’t commit Thursday to the veteran defensive end being ready for Sept. 11 against the Bills.
“I don’t have that for you yet,” Saleh said when asked for Lawson’s Week 1 status.
Lawson was spotted working with trainers on a side field Thursday during the final practice of training camp.
He has been out for more than two weeks and is “still dealing with a back,” Saleh said.
The exact nature of Lawson’s injury remains a bit of a mystery, as Saleh previously said that he would not “get into detail on the stuff he’s had done.”
Lawson agreed to a pay cut in May that included an opportunity to earn back an additional $3 million in incentives, though those tie into his being available and productive in games.
Saleh will see two players whose careers he helped to jump-start Saturday in the preseason finale against the Giants.
Jason Pinnock and Lawrence Cager both were Jets at this time last season.
Pinnock now is the Giants’ starting safety, and Cager is the third-string tight end.
“I have nothing but love for all of them,” Saleh said. “You just want to see guys who put so much work and effort into getting to this point to be able to extend [their dream], whether here or somewhere else.”
The Jets drafted Pinnock in 2021 and moved him from cornerback to safety before he was cut at the end of last training camp.
Cager, undrafted in 2020, moved from receiver to tight end before he was waived during last season.
Saleh said he is “so excited for those two” and expressed no regret in hindsight about possibly misjudging two players solidified on the 53-man roster across town.
“Cager, really proud of him because — knock on wood — he had so much trouble trying to stick, and then we made the investment in trying to get him into that tight end spot and he flourished,” Saleh said. “Really took off.”
As for Pinnock, Saleh “always felt like he was going to be a really good football player.”
The Jets suddenly look a little short-handed at receiver after Corey Davis’ surprise retirement. Veteran Alex Erickson got first-team looks in practice, but Saleh mentioned four others who could fill in the depth chart behind Garrett Wilson, Allen Lazard, Randall Cobb and Mecole Hardman.
The group: Irvin Charles, Malik Taylor. Xavier Gipson and Jason Brownlee. Taylor has been sidelined by injury this week.
“It’s a great competition going on and we’ll see how it shakes out,” Saleh said. “They know the opportunity that’s at hand, and Corey leaving opened up a door for somebody else. They’re fully aware of what that looks like and what that means, and it’s just a matter of observing and seeing who takes advantage of it.”