The New York Jets’ rookie class suffered a pair of injuries during Saturday’s padded training camp practice, although one of them shouldn’t be anything to worry about.
Second-overall pick David Bailey limped off with what appeared to be a left ankle injury. However, he returned and appeared to be okay.
After practice, head coach Aaron Glenn stated that Bailey will be fine and that he was merely jogging off the injury on the side.
In less promising news, seventh-round safety VJ Payne will be out for three to four weeks with a bone bruise. Glenn says Payne will be “fine,” but the reported timeline will likely cost him all three of the Jets’ preseason games.
Bailey has enjoyed an explosive training camp in Florham Park. Reports of him beating blockers for sacks have emerged daily, while there have been positive reports of his discipline and fundamentals against the run. Things have been up and down in the latter area, but there have been enough promising flashes to inspire optimism in Bailey’s trajectory.
Payne is looking to carve out a role in a crowded Jets safety room. He was already likely to be slotted behind Minkah Fitzpatrick, Malachi Moore, Dane Belton, and Andre Cisco on the depth chart, and that has only become more likely with his injury. Payne also needs to carve out a niche in the Jets’ talented special teams unit, which was the highest-ranked group in the NFL last season, according to DVOA.
The next key date for the Jets is Tuesday, August 11, when they will host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for a joint practice.
