Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie has not been himself through ܫthe first two games. He revealed why on Thursday.
Cromartie has been playing through a hip injury he said made it feel like he was “playing on one hip.” The Pro Bowl corner suffered t๊he injury in training camp, but it had not been considered serious. He missed some practice time late in camp, but never was in jeopardy of missing game time.
But on Thursday Cro🔜martie said the hip has been bothering him, 🅰but he finally said he feels like he’s getting over it.
“This is probably the best I’ve felt in about five weeks, probably since the first day of training camp,” Cromartie said. “For me, it’s just been a nagging injury that is finally starting to feel a whole lot better. Th♈is is probably the closest to 100 percent that I’m going to get so I’m feeling real good right about now.”
Cromar♏tie did not identify which hip has been the problem🎶 or the exact nature of the injury. The injury could explain a slight drop-off in his play this season. According to Pro Football Focus, Cromartie has given up eight passes for 98 yards through the first two games. He has not been bad, but Cromartie raised expectations with the way he played last season.
“It did [affect me],” Cromartie said. “I was only playing on one hip. For me, that’s no excuse at all. When I’m out there my teammates, my coaches, everybody expects for me to be 100 percent. I’m never making an excuse for myself. For me, I finally feel like I’m 100 percen💫t. I’m healthy.”
The Jets better hope so. Cromartie is expected to draw the difficult assignment of covering Bills star receiver Stevie Johnson this week. Johnson has tormented the Jets in the past, even having success against Darrelle Revis. Ryan even admitted Thursday that Johnson bothered Revis as much asไ any receiver he ever saw.
“Yeah, I think that’s a fair statement,” Ryan said. “And I think everybody, even the All-World guys, have a guy out there that they ℱstruggle with, and I think he did as good a job as probably anybody against Rev♈is.”
Now, it’s Cromartie’s turn.
In the past two seasꦛons, Johnson has 21 catches in four games against the Jets 🍎for 325 yards and two touchdowns.
“The thing that is unusual about him, his style is unique, the way he gets off the line of scrimmage, off press coverage in particular,” Ryan said. “🔯There are guys that are faster than him, but he gets open. He gets separation. And I think it starts with the way he is at the line of scrimmage. He’s 🅘a little different but he’s excellent at getting off press coverage in particular.”
Cromartie said Johnson is “crafty” and he is as good as anyone at gettin♍g off the line.
“I think he [gets off jam coveraꦓge] better than any other recei♏ver in the NFL,” Cromartie said. “I think the biggest thing is just trying to get your hands on him as quick as possible and just go from there.”
The Jets know con🐲taining Johnson is a key Sunday, so that rookie quarterback EJ Manuel does not have an easy target to throw to. Cromartie is familiar with Manuel because both went ꦛto Florida State.
“He’s a guy that’s not going to turn the ball over,” Cromartie said. “He was the same way in college. He doesn’t want to make any m🥀istaღkes. He wants to make every throw the perfect throw. He wants to make sure every decision he makes is the right decision.”