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BALTIMORE (AP) -- Their shutout loss to the Baltimore Ravens was
the least of the New York Jets' problems Saturday night.
The Jets also lost two quarterbacks to injury, but projected
starter Vinny Testaverde expects to bounce back quickly from the hyperextended left big toe he sustained in the 10-0 defeat.
"It's not a serious injury, and the good news is I'll be out
there again very shortly," said Testaverde, who endured a
miserable night in his return to Baltimore.
Testaverde's first pass was intercepted by Chris McAlister and returned 33 yards for a touchdown, and the former Pro Bowl
quarterback lasted only two series before leaving.
Rookie Chad Pennington, who took over for Testaverde, started
the third quarter and left with a sprained left knee after going
5-for-12 for 61 yards.
Head coach Al Groh said there was no timetable for either quarterback's return.
"I'm sure there were some positives out there tonight, but I'm
not looking for any silver linings," Groh said. "A number of
things we set out to do ... we didn't do very well."
Testaverde, who entered in the second quarter, completed one of
three passes for 10 yards and was sacked twice.
The 14-year veteran experienced mixed success during his two
seasons in Baltimore, making the Pro Bowl in 1996 before losing his
starting job late in 1997. He then signed with the Jets as a free
agent and enjoyed an outstanding 1998 season before rupturing his
Achilles tendon in last year's regular season opener.
This game marked Testaverde's first trip back to Baltimore with the Jets, and it was a not a night that he will remember fondly.
"The good thing is the Achilles held up, but the toe gave out.
Tomorrow will tell more," he said. "Each time I've had this
injury, it was different as far as when I returned and how long it
took before I got back on the field. Tomorrow will tell a lot more
than right now."
It was the 10th straight exhibition victory for the Ravens (2-0), who forced three turnovers, including two inside their 5.
"Turnovers were a major factor in the game," Groh said.
After scoring 24 points in their first two preseason games, the
Jets (1-2) managed only 104 yards in the first half against
Baltimore's first-string defense.
On his first play, Testaverde attempted to hit Laveranues Coles
on an out pattern. McAlister stepped in front of Coles, grabbed the
ball and broke several tackles on his way to the end zone.
"I saw the play develop," McAlister said. "Vinny was staring
at me the whole way."
Testaverde didn't fare much better on the next series. He hit Dedric Ward for 10 yards on a third-and-7, but was sacked on his next two passing attempts before calling it a night. The injury
occurred on a sack by Sam Adams.
"I started scrambling out to my left and I got tackled from
behind," Testaverde said. "Someone fell on my heel and jammed my
foot into the ground and hyperextended my big toe."
Testaverde followed Ray Lucas, who was 6-for-10 for 43 yards. After Pennington left, Jim Kubiak couldn't move the ball, either.
Baltimore's Tony Banks was 10-for-21 for 137 yards, but he
received a lecture from coach Brian Billick for letting the clock
run out at the end of the first half with the Ravens on the New
York 11.
"We have the talent to do better than what our first offense
showed," Billick said.
The Ravens took a 3-0 lead on their third possession. After Qadry Ismail took a short pass from Banks in front of Marcus
Coleman and turned it into a 57-yard gain, Matt Stover kicked a
23-yard field goal.
Held to two first downs in the first quarter, the Jets moved to
the Baltimore 1 before running back Curtis Martin twice failed to
score. On third down, Richie Anderson fumbled when hit by Cedric
Woodard, and Lional Dalton recovered on the 4.
The Jets blew another scoring chance in the third quarter when
Pennington was intercepted by Brad Jackson in the end zone on first-and-goal from the Baltimore 1.
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