Nick Mangold To Miss Two Weeks

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- The New York Jets will head to the Black Hole this weekend with a huge hole in the middle of their offensive line.

All-Pro center Nick Mangold underwent an MRI Monday morning, which confirmed a high-ankle sprain, according to league sources. Mangold is expected to miss at least two games, one source said. His return will be determined by how he responds to rehab.

Mangold was injured late in the first quarter Sunday and never returned to the Jets' 32-3 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Linebacker Daryl Smith rolled up the back of Mangold's right leg on a running play by Shonn Greene. Mangold never saw him.

He left the stadium on crutches with his right foot in a boot.

The Jets have yet to confirm the MRI results. Coach Rex Ryan will address the media late Monday afternoon.

The injury comes at a particularly difficult time for the Jets, who have three straight road games. It starts Sunday at the Oakland Raiders, followed by games at the Baltimore Ravens and New England Patriots. The crowd noise will make it hard on Mangold's replacement, rookie Colin Baxter.

Baxter is their third-string center, picked up on waivers only three weeks ago. The Jets lost their backup center, Rob Turner, to a broken leg in the first preseason game. Turner still is on the active roster, but he's at least a month away from returning. These days, he's getting around on a motorized scooter.

After Turner was hurt, the Jets decided not to add any experienced backups, opting for Baxter and guard Caleb Schlauderaff -- another rookie they claimed on waivers.

After Sunday's game, Ryan said he was pleased with Baxter's performance (his first NFL experience), although he had problems with the snap count on a few plays and was blown up on a goal-line play. The Jets picked up Baxter, an undrafted free agent, when he was cut by the San Diego Chargers.

"Baxter stepped in and did a nice job," Ryan said. "It's a similar system. We got him from San Diego so the terminology is similar with (offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer) coming from San Diego."

Mangold is one of the Jets' most durable players, having never missed a game in his career -- 82 straight starts, dating to 2006.

"Very frustrating," Mangold said after the game. "It's not what I want, it's not what I expected, it's difficult."

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