Jets coach Rex Ryan isn't ready to rule Nick Mangold out of Sunday's game against the Raiders, but the chances the All-Pro center plays remains slim.
Mangold is off crutches, but he wasn't on the practice field Wednesday.
"I'll never say never, but I don't see it happening this week," Ryan said.
Mangold suffered a high ankle sprain in Sunday's 32-3 win over the Jaguars. Initial estimates have the center out 2-4 weeks. Mangold has never missed a game since entering the league as a first-round pick in 2006 -- a streak of 82 games -- is off crutches and said the ankle "feels better," but the risk of making the injury worse is something he and the team have to consider.
"You don't want anything lingering and I think that's the fear of the injury and trying to rush back before it's ready," Mangold said, according to The Associated Press. "I'm going to make sure it's ready, but I'm going to make sure it's ready as soon as possible."
Colin Baxter will continue to play in Mangold's absence.
Ryan also touched on cornerback Antonio Cromartie, who was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week following his two-interception performance on Sunday.
"No surprise there, but that's a great accomplishment,"Â Ryan said. "That's fantastic, we're proud of him for that. ... He definitely deserved it."
Cromartie made some waves earlier when he was asked what differentiates him from All-Pro CB Nnamdi Asomugha, who the Jets courted heavily in the offseason only to lose out to the Eagles.
"My style of play and his style of play are totally different," Cromartie told ESPN.com. "I feel I'm more of a playmaker than he is."
Easy there, Cro.
