New York Jets wide receiver Plaxico Burress has not begun his second NFL career the way he had hoped. Burress has barely practiced with the Jets due to an injured left ankle, and will not play in Monday’s preseason opener against the Houston Texans.
Burress, of course, is returning to the NFL after serving approxmately two years in prison for shooting himself in the leg with an unregistered handgun while at a Manhattan nightclub during the 2008 NFL season. He was a member of the New York Giants at the time.
Burress had an MRI on the injured ankle today, and called it a "classic sprain." He told reporters that he would be playing if this were the regular season.
"We all want to see him out there," said Jets coach Rex Ryan. "But is it in the best interest of him? I don’t think so."
During his final season with the Giants, 2008, Burress seldom practiced due to what he said was a right ankle injury.
The Jets are hoping Burress, who they are paying $3 million, will join Santonio Holmes and Derrick Mason to give them a formidable receiving corps.
Until he is able to get on the field, however, no one has any idea what type of player Burress can still be.