Florham Park, NJ – New York Jets center Nick Mangold was off his crutches but missed practice Wednesday because of an ankle sprain, putting his consecutive games streak in jeopardy.
Jets head coach Rex Ryan remained pessimistic that Mangold would play Sunday at Oakland.
"We'll see," Ryan said during his press conference. "I never say never, but I don't see it happening this week."
An MRI earlier this week revealed Mangold's injury, which knocked him out of Sunday's win over Jacksonville with under a minute remaining in the first quarter.
The All-Pro center said on his Twitter feed Sunday that his goal was to "get back as soon as possible," but it appears likely that he will miss a game for the first time in his six-year NFL career.
"It feels better," Mangold said Wednesday. "It's a little tender walking around without the crutches, but it's getting better and that's all we can ask for."
Mangold, 27, has started 82 consecutive games since the Jets drafted him in the first round in 2006, but he is being cautious not to hurry back.
"You don't want anything lingering and I think that's the fear of the injury and trying to rush back before it's ready," he said. "So I'm going to make sure it's ready, but I'm going to make sure it's ready as soon as possible."
Rookie Colin Baxter took over for Mangold after the injury and would start in his place on Sunday despite only being with the team for a few weeks. Mangold said Baxter has to learn the system in just a matter of days.
"I want the guys around him, if he needs to be called up, to be comfortable with what he's doing, so my goal is to get him ready," Mangold said.
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