As the Jets turn the page to Week 16 with Sunday's 1 p.m. home game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, New York is hopeful for the return of two key players on defense.
After last Thursday's 42-21 road loss to the Baltimore Ravens, head coach Adam Gase provided an update on safety Jamal Adams (ankle) and defensive tackle Quinnen Williams (neck).
The couple were set to headline limited participants in Wednesday's practice, while wide receiver Demaryius Thomas (hamstring/knee) and right guard Tom Compton (calf) were held out.
"The fact that they're limited is a positive," Gase said of Adams and Williams. "So we've just got to see how it goes with them, and see how they feel afterwards. I think this is going to be kind of a day-to-day thing of, 'How do they feel the next day?' So that's kind of what we're looking for."
With a sprained left ankle, Adams has not played since Dec. 1's 22-6 road loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. Williams, who battled injuries earlier in the season, missed Week 15 with a stinger.
Despite being held out the past couple of games, Adams was the lone Jets player named Tuesday to the 2020 Pro Bowl.
"That's a great accomplishment for him," Gase said of Adams, who has 64 tackles (eight for loss), 12 quarterback hits (6 1/2 sacks), an interception returned for a touchdown and a forced fumble. "You guys have watched him play all year, he's had a great year. He's played as well as anyone I've been around consistently -- week in, week out. You never see a dip. It's just always elite level."
Gase revealed that Adams worked to get back for the Ravens game, but the short week complicated matters.
"I think he was -- emotionally, I think he really wanted to play that game," Gase said. "But it's hard to say. It got on him so fast that you realize that he couldn't."
The Jets (5-9) remain cautious with Adams, whose status is one that the medical staff and Gase are monitoring closely with the Steelers (8-6) and Buffalo Bills (10-4) on deck for Weeks 16 and 17.
"I keep talking to him about making sure that he's OK," Gase said of Adams. "If he goes, it has to be (certain). He has to feel right. I do not want to put him out there if there's any chance that it could be an injury that prolongs him down the road. It's not what we're looking for. That's why the communication between him, the training staff and everybody -- it's critical."