Coach Rex Ryan Not Sure If NT Sione Po’uha Will Be Active For Opening Day

Jets nose tackle Sione Po’uha has been sidelined for most of training camp with a back injury.  Coach Rex Ryan had maintained that he would be ready to play in the season opener this Sunday, September 9^th, but Ryan was less optimistic today about Po’uha’s availability this week:

The Jets may be without a valuable defensive starter for the season opener against the Bills.

Rex Ryan said that he’s “still not real sure” that veteran nose tackle Sione Pouha — who missed the preseason with what the team described as “back tightness” – will play in Week 1.

Ryan intimated Pouha could have suffered a setback.

“We’ll see and that could very well be,” Ryan said. “I just don’t want to give you a definitive absolutely when that has never been said to me.”

Source: Manish Metha / NY Daily News

Second year DT Kenrick Ellis has been handling that starting duties during Po’uha’s absence and will be called upon week one against the Bills if Po’uha is not available to play.

Update – Po’uha believes he’ll be ready to play on Sunday:

Sione Pouha says there's "no doubt" he will be ready for Bills on Sun. Was a little limited in practice today, but says he's ahead of sched

— Manish Mehta (@MMehtaSports) September 3, 2012

Sione said he's actually ahead of where he should be. Said he almost practiced fully today and expects to be ready for Sun. #nyj

— Kimberley A. Martin (@ByKimberleyA) September 3, 2012

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