The Jets should have center Nick Mangold back in the lineup for their AFC East game against the Patriots on Sunday afternoon.
Mangold missed the last two games, both losses, with a high ankle sprain he suffered in Week Two against the Jaguars. He’s listed as questionable on the final injury report of the week, but all indications are that he’s going to be back on the field tangling with Vince Wilfork and the rest of the Patriots.
Mangold said that he’s “ready to go” after practicing on Friday and Rex Ryan said he feels good about his center’s chances of rejoining the starting lineup. The Jets offensive line was a total disaster in Baltimore last weekend and Mangold’s return should help them put forth a better effort. While there’s not much Mangold can do about Wayne Hunter at right tackle, he is in charge of setting the blocking assignments on each play and is a much more skilled player than Colin Baxter, the undrafted rookie who replaced him and teamed up with Mark Sanchez for two fumbled snaps.