HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. (Aug. 9, 2005) -- Quarterback Chad Pennington and newly signed cornerback Ty Law will not play in the New York Jets' preseason opener against the Detroit Lions.
Coach Herman Edwards said he wants to be careful with both, who are coming off serious injuries and working themselves back into game shape.
"We didn't want to take a chance to have a setback when everything was going so well," Pennington said.
The star quarterback is recovering from a torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder that caused him to miss minicamp and offseason training. Pennington has generally been alternating between days off and participating in afternoon practices after throwing in each of the first five days of camp, but practiced for the second successive day.
"I think my shoulder is starting to respond now," he said.
Pennington practiced with his left calf wrapped up after he was accidentally spiked by a teammate during practice Aug. 8, causing some bruising and swelling.
But Edwards said that had no affect on choosing to not play Pennington against Detroit.
"That decision was made about three months ago," Edwards said.
"In the first game, we'd play a maximum of two series," Pennington said. "Getting more practice reps and getting my shoulder in game shape is more important than going out there and taking any chances."
Backup Jay Fiedler will start the game Aug. 12 at Giants Stadium and third-stringer Brooks Bollinger will follow. The Jets also have former free-agent rookie Kevin Eakin in camp.
"Obviously, Jay is going to play a lot," Edwards said. "Brooks will take most of it after Jay comes out and we'll go from there."
Law, who signed a multiyear deal with the Jets on Aug. 8, had surgery in January to repair ligament damage in his broken left foot. He took part in light drills on the past two days, but hasn't gone through a full practice.
"We'll bring him along day to day every practice," Edwards said. "He's actually doing fairly well, but he's not in shape to participate in full practices yet, as far as I'm concerned, so we're going to bring him along gingerly. We've got a pretty good plan for him."
Law worked out in the training complex with Edwards' son, Marcus, during practice the past two days before coming out to study the team's defensive schemes.
"He won't play in this week's game, that's for sure," defensive coordinator Donnie Henderson said. "It will be whenever he can get himself physically in condition, football condition. That's what he's doing right now."
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