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Plaxico Burress skips morning walkthrough for 'personal' matter

BY Kevin Armstrong


Jets wideout Plaxico Burress (ankle) missed Thursday morning's walkthrough due to a "personal" matter that he had been excused by the team to do.

"It was not like he missed anything," Ryan said.

Burress, set to turn 34 on Friday, experienced more swelling in his injured left ankle earlier in the week and is still being monitored by the team's training staff. He is back at the team's facility for afternoon practice. Ryan expects him to partake in drills.

"We won't put him out there if we think he's at risk, as with any player," Ryan said of the possibility of seeing Burress play in the preseason opener against the Houston Texans Monday night. "But I'd like to see him get out there. I'm expecting him to play some."

On Tuesday, Burress did not go through team drills. He experienced more swelling in the ankle, which he originally rolled while running routes on his own. Ryan and the staff decided to cut back on his repetitions and the coach also said he was not sure whether Burress underwent an MRI. He maintained that the issue was still "minor".

"Those ankles, if you don't get them healed, can be a problem throughout the year," Ryan said. "We're gonna make sure we get him back to near 100 percent and then get him out there."

* * *

Goal line and short yardage packages, a favorite part of training camp for Ryan, will be the theme of the afternoon's practice.

"If you think about it, it's really the first hitting we've done since that Pittsburgh game with the No. 1 guys," Ryan said. "I'm sure it will be fun and lively out there."

Ryan told the team it has already reached its quota for fights in light of several skirmishes over the last week.

"I let them know it's time to just play football," Ryan said. "We reached our quota."

* * *

Burress and quarterback Mark Sanchez had dinner together Wednesday night.

"There's plenty of time to get things right," Sanchez said. "I think the most important thing is we just don't waste the time when he gets back."

Sanchez bought Burress dinner Wednesday night after losing out in a throwing drill to him.

"I missed, and I figured we might go somewhere Mexican where I might get it for free so I didn't have to pay but he said that was off limits," Sanchez said.

* * *

Tight end Dustin Keller upped his weight to 255 pounds, readying his frame for better blocking while maintaining the bursts that allow him to separate from linebackers and defensive backs out in the offense.

Ryan said he would like to see him be more aggressive in blocking this season, and said Matthew Mulligan was the team's best blocking tight end.

* * *

Cornerback Marquice Cole, excused for the beginning of camp due to an undisclosed family issue, made his first appearance on the sideline.

He wore a practice uniform and stood by the goalpost while the defense walked through its packages.

"It's great to have him back; he looks good, too," Ryan said.

* * *

Ryan said rookie defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson (hip) is healthy to practice after missing part of Tuesday's session.