Despite a surprising appearance on the Jets injury list this week, Davante Adams said he is “optimistic” he’ll play Sunday in Buffalo.
The Jets’ top receiver, who is listed as questionable, has sat out two consecutive practices this week with a hip injury.
Adams said he hurt it early in the 19-9 loss to the Rams but managed to play through it.
During Friday’s practice, the six-time Pro Bowler didn’t seem to have problems running in position drills.
“We’re still working through it,” Adams said. “Treatment, trying to get it right so we can hopefully we can be ready by game time.
“I did the first competitive period [of practice] just to get a feel for it because going into it I wasn’t thinking I was going to be able to do as much as I did, and it felt a lot better. Yeah, wanted to get some routes out there first and then get out there and get a little competitive but not do too much. Make sure we keep it nice and cool for game day.”
Adams, 32, has hit a groove recently with a near 200-yard game and two touchdowns against the Jaguars in Week 15, and a 109-yard game and a touchdown the previous week against the Dolphins.
If he plays against the Bills, he will have the chance to catch Aaron Rodgers’ 500th career touchdown pass and add to his connection with the quarterback from their eight shared seasons in Green Bay.
“I mean, obviously, I would love that. I got 200 and I got 400 so it would be dope to get five as well,” he said. “I think his 200th was my first. So, we’ve got some special connections in the past. It would be great and obviously a big, big, big thing for him, not that he needs more accolades and more milestones but you might as well keep racking them up while you can.”
Adams also is 70 yards away from earning his fifth consecutive season of 1,000 plus receiving yards.
He said it would be “a crying shame” to not reach the goal.
Greg Zuerlein will kick for the Jets on Sunday, interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich said on Friday.
The 13-year veteran, who landed on IR in October due to a left knee injury, was kicking field goals after practice on Friday.
Zuerlein has struggled this season, making only nine of his 15 field goal attempts, but Ulbrich said the injury wasn’t part of the problem.
“It’s been a case of we’ve had the talent just underperformed, and it’s not good enough and I know he would say his performance wasn’t good enough and wasn’t to his standard by any means,” Ulbrich said. “It’s a great opportunity for him to come back these last two games and kick to his standard and do his thing.”
DL Leki Fotu (knee) is listed as out for Sunday after being a limited participant on Friday.
Safety Tony Adams (ankle), CB Michael Carter II (back), CB Sauce Gardner (hamstring), DL Braiden McGregor (ankle), OL Morgan Moses (knee), DL Haason Reddick (neck) and DL Quinnen Williams (hamstring) are all listed as questionable.
