New York Jets rookie quarterback Geno Smith insisted after Friday's 26-17 loss to the Detroit Lions that he would have continued playing despite his ankle injury had it been a regular-season game.
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The X-rays were negative and ESPNNewYork.com reported the injury as just a "mild" ankle sprain.
It's no surprise, then, that Smith was back in pads Sunday, joining teammates in practice. The quarterback took snaps with the first-team offense during team drills.
"Obviously the ankle isn't full strength right now, but I felt pretty good out there," Smith said after practice. "I was limping a little bit. It's just something that you've got to work past, you've got to get through."
"You can't miss a day of practice," Smith added. "I pride myself on being out there at all times and one little ankle injury wasn't going to keep me from practicing and competing with my teammates."
Smith revealed that offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg repeatedly told him "don't limp" during practice.
"He's that type of coach. He's going to coach me hard," Smith said. "He's going to coach all of us hard. That's the way he is. He's an old-school coach. He told us about Brett Favre and the way he played through every single injury, so I try to be the same way."
The Jets' quarterback battle will continue next Saturday against the Jacksonville Jaguars. If Smith continues to show signs that he's not 100 percent, the Jets might be conservative with their second-round draft pick, in which case Mark Sanchez would have a chance to maintain his momentum.
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