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Injury report: Decker practices, Dee doubtful

The New York Jets are officially listing cornerback Dee Milliner as doubtful, but the team expects the 23-year-old to miss his second game of the season Monday night against the Chicago Bears due to ankle and quadriceps injuries.

Now for some good news: Wide receiver Eric Decker, who did not practice Wednesday, Thursday or Friday due to a hamstring injury, was out there on a limited basis Saturday, the team said, and he is officially listed as questionable. Expect Decker to be a game-time decision.

Eric Decker

Eric Decker

#87 WR
New York Jets

2014 STATS

  • Rec9
  • Yds137

  • TD1

  • Avg15.2

  • Long29

  • YAC59

Milliner missed Week 1 due to a high-ankle sprain he has been dealing with since Aug. 10. He returned and played 40 snaps in Week 2, but recently he developed quad tightness, which will likely keep him out of Week 3.

That means converted safety Antonio Allen and career backup Darrin Walls will once again be the starting cornerbacks, with Kyle Wilson manning the slot.

Bears wide receivers Alshon Jeffery and Brandon Marshall are officially listed as questionable. But both are expected to play, which could mean yet another long night for Gang Green’s secondary. All the pressure is on the front seven to force quarterback Jay Cutler into mistakes, which he has been prone to in the past.

Milliner, who referred to himself as the best cornerback in the NFL back in July, needed offseason surgery to repair a torn labrum in his shoulder, and he also dealt with an Achilles injury during the preseason. The 2013 first-round pick rebounded nicely after being benched early in his rookie campaign, but so far, his young career hasn’t gone as well as he or the Jets had hoped.

Decker has been an extremely valuable addition on offense since he signed a $36 million, free-agent contract with the Jets in the offseason. Gang Green should use plenty of ground and pound against one of the NFL’s worst rush defenses, but quarterback Geno Smith has been developing a nice rapport with his favorite target, Decker, so the team is obviously hoping he plays.

JETS

Probable: LB Nick Bellore (hip), DB Josh Bush (quadriceps), OL Willie Colon (calf), LB Quinton Coples (probable), LB A.J. Edds (hamstring), RB Chris Johnson (ankle), OL Nick Mangold (shoulder)

Questionable: Decker (hamstring)

Doubtful: Milliner (ankle/quadriceps)

BEARS

Probable: DE Jared Allen (back), S Chris Conte (shoulder), WR Josh Morgan (groin)

Questionable: Jeffery (hamstring), Marshall (ankle),

Doubtful: DE Trevor Scott (foot)

Out: C Roberto Garza (shoulder), LB Shea McClellin (hand), CB Sherrick McManis (quadriceps), DT Jeremiah Ratliff (concussion), G Matt Slauson (ankle)