Jets notes: Punter Steve Weatherford released

As Jets center Nick Mangold lay face down on the turf at Gillette Stadium after being hit hard late in Sunday's game against the Patriots, he experienced physical sensations he'd never felt before. Buster Skrine was limited. Calvin Pryor sprained his ankle.

The bad news is that Mangold has not practiced all week since the injury.

Owusu, who has five documented concussions, was later waived-injured by the team to clear a roster spot for running back Stevan Ridley, who was activated from the physically unable to perform list.

Mangold initially was not moving as he was tended to by the Jets training staff. Players from both teams went to one knee and appeared to be praying for Mangold, who has missed just three games since the Jets selected him in the first round of the 2006 draft.

A former Jets punter who was most recently with the New York Giants, Weatherford is a steady National Football League veteran.

Coach Todd Bowles has remained noncommittal regarding Mangold's status. "But the longer the days go on that he doesn't do anything, the less possible it becomes".

In his first comments since going down in the final minute of last Sunday's loss to the Patriots, Mangold described the moment as "a scary time" and admitted he is still coping with his first brush with an injury that could have been catastrophic.

LB Quanterus Smith was signed to the Jets' practice squad on Wednesday. "If things happen and I can't play, I'll deal with that at that time".

"I don't know where you're getting this pain-threshold business, " he said, smiling.

Johnson said he hasn't been told whether he'll definitely be playing but feels ready to go.

"But right now, I plan on playing", Mangold added.

Center Nick Mangold and wide receivers Chris Owusu and Eric Decker are among those who did not participate in practice Wednesday. He didn't finish practice, but we'll take a look at it when I get out of here.

He was asked if he'd ever recalled having that feeling during a game and conceded, "That's why I think it was as hard as it was for me". "He's just got to get the soreness out".

Weatherford was cut by the Giants in September after the team traded for Steelers punter Brad Wing. "The challenge is to run the ball, and we've got a big test in front of us".

Marcus Gilchrist will be starting at S along with Dion Bailey, who came on for Pryor vs. the Patriots.