WR Plaxico Burress was a full participant in practice. In his morning news conference, head coach Rex Ryan said Burress would be reevaluated after individual drills due to his sore back.
Burress completed individual drills and was also involved in the team period, not showing any indication of being hampered by his back, which became sore after coming down awkwardly following a catch at Tuesday’s practice.
In fact, Burress participated even more than usual. He sneaked into special teams drills, fielding a punt and drawing laughter from teammates and the coaching staff. But don’t expect him to return any punts during games.
Brunell’s Next Student
QB Mark Brunell continues to sit out practice with a calf injury sustained last week. He has not seen any game action this preseason, which has allowed rookie QB Greg McElroy to carry the bulk of the workload. Today, Brunell joined his team on the practice field, spending most of his time coaching up McElroy.
Brunell, a 19-year veteran, could be the perfect mentor for the young McElroy. A starter for a vast majority of his career, he has embraced his role as a backup and is helping groom the seventh-round draft pick into an NFL player. Through two weeks in the preseason, McElroy leads all rookie QBs in passer rating.
The evolution of McElroy into a productive professional has only begun, but with Brunell at his side, he is already showing signs of vast improvement.
Kicker Update
Nick Folk and Nick Novak’s kicking competition continued, and this time from long range. Folk converted four of his five attempts, missing only from 58 yards out. Novak missed from the same distance and also couldn’t hit a 38-yard attempt, finishing 3-for-5.
For their last attempts, they set up from a whopping 62 yards out — 1 yard shy of the NFL-record field goal distance — and both nailed booming kicks through the uprights with distance to spare. The full team roared in approval, chanting for the two to “move it back.” However, the final horn blew and practice ended.
Notes
DL Muhammad Wilkerson (illness) sat out full team drills, with Ropati Pitoitua taking his reps. … Wide receivers were having fun today, practicing one-handed catches and working a quick-hands drill that resembled a grown-up game of “hot potato.” … Sanchez was pinpoint-accurate with his throws, repeatedly hitting his receivers on the numbers and in stride. … LB Bart Scott was in rare form, heckling loudly in the direction of both kickers throughout their five FG attempts.
