New York Jets rule Dee Milliner out

New York Jets cornerback Dee Milliner (27) walks out to the practice field prior to training camp at SUNY Cortland. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Jets have ruled rookie cornerback Dee Milliner out for tomorrow’s game against the Tennessee Titans, and it’s a move that comes as little surprise. Milliner suffered a hamstring injury on Wednesday, and the day-to-day cornerback didn’t practice since sustaining the injury. That sealed his fate for Week 4, and the Jets will be starting Darrin Walls opposite of star Antonio Cromartie with Milliner ruled out. Kyle Wilson will play in the slot, and the Jets will hope that he doesn’t pull last week’s undisciplined farce against the Buffalo Bills. Wilson conceded an obscene amount of consecutive penalties, and that undermined what was actually a steady day in coverage. Both he and Milliner have done a good job of limiting the opposition’s ability to move the chains so far this season.

Dee Milliner has shutdown corner potential, but he probably won’t realize that potential this year. The Jets benched him in the middle of the game against the New England Patriots, because Rex Ryan evidently didn’t want Milliner to lose his confidence by being picked apart by Tom Brady. They didn’t use him much last week, either, so he probably wouldn’t have received much playing time this week even if he were healthy.

Darrin Walls has done a solid job starting on the outside in Milliner’s place, and he should continue to start if/when Milliner is able to usurp him. Milliner has had some struggles early on, because he has been a bit burn prone through three games. But, again, he doesn’t give up many catches and would almost certainly bounce back from his poor performance against the New England Patriots in Week 2. The hamstring injury is only significant enough to knock him out of this week’s game, and he should be back at it in Week 5 to take on a tough Atlanta Falcons passing attack. Milliner will prove to be a solid player for the New York Jets, and I think he’ll improve sooner rather than later once he’s healthy.

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