A report on Thursday morning had the Jets shutting center Nick Mangold down for the season after he got a second opinion on the ankle injury that’s kept him out of four games this season.
The Jets confirmed that’s the case later in the day by placing Mangold on injured reserve. Wesley Johnson is expected to start in Mangold’s place and the Jets signed safety Doug Middleton off the practice squad to take his place on the roster.
The eight games Mangold played this year are by far the least he’s ever played during an NFL season. Mangold played at least 14 games in each of his first 10 years with the team and he started all of them to become a fixture under three different Jets coaches.
Some have suggested that the Jets may look to bring in another coach after this disappointing season comes to an end, but the Jets will have a decision to make on Mangold whether they part ways with Todd Bowles or not. Mangold is set to make $8.475 million in salary and bonuses next season, which is a lot for a player turning 33 in January who plays for a team in need of widespread improvements to their personnel.