11/13 — Lito Sheppard is ready to restart the Jets phase of his NFL career on Sunday. It’s even possible the cornerback who hails from Jacksonville will be selected by head coach Rex Ryan as one of the Jets’ game captains for the opening coin toss against the Jaguars.

“I’m feeling good. I’m anxious and can’t wait to get back out there and hopefully add a great asset to this secondary,” said Sheppard, who’s been battling a quad pull for more than two months. “These guys have been playing great up until this point. Hopefully, I can come back and continue to add on to that.”

And Ryan said today he expects Sheppard to contribute to the mix, except not as a starting corner.

“I don’t think we’ll start Lito,” Ryan said at today’s final news conference of the week. “Even though he’s practiced fully this week, I don’t think he’s all the way back yet. We’ll evaluate and see how much he plays, but I think we’ll start Dwight Lowery.”

Sheppard has said as much all week. Asked how much he thought he might play vs. the Jags, he said Thursday: “I haven’t addressed that yet. All I know is that I will be up and ready to play. However the coaches decide to work that in, we’re going to go with it. I’m just looking forward to getting back and making sure I’m back. We’ll go from there.”

Corners, needless to say, are so dependent on their legs, and Sheppard gave all he had, included the health of his right quad, when he deflected away a probable Tom Brady touchdown pass for Joey Galloway in the end zone early in the second quarter of Game 2 vs. the Patriots. He sat out the next three games, started Game 6 vs. Buffalo but left the game early, then sat out the last two games.

As much as Ryan, DC Mike Pettine and Sheppard himself would like to see No. 26 back on the field full-time, there is plenty of confidence in Lowery, who is in line to start for the sixth time in seven games opposite Pro Bowl LCB Darrelle Revis.

“I think Dwight can start on any NFL team,” Revis said. “He’s a playmaker and we know that, the coaches know that. He has experience and this is only his second year. He’s a talent for us.”

Leon and Kris

Leon Washington is around the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center these days and is expected to talk with reporters soon, following his Game 7 compound leg fracture at Oakland. Ryan said it’s great seeing Washington observing practices.

“That’s where he belongs. He’s definitely one of us, even though he can’t practice or play right now. But he’s around, starting to rehab, and Big Jenks [Kris Jenkins] has had his surgery and he’ll be around,” the coach said.

“And it’s always good to have that. Those guys are Jets. It shows how supportive they are of their teammates and vice versa. They’re always encouraging our guys, and they believe we have enough to get it done even without them. It would be easier with them, but we still have enough to be successful. I know the guys appreciate that encouragement they’re giving to the team.”

Rex Cetera

Ryan said all of the Jets injured players except for LB Vernon Gholston are listed as probable and “really everybody should be up” for the Jaguars. That includes Brad Smith, who was limited this week in practice but is probable for the first time in four Friday I-reports since injuring his quad at Miami. Gholston (hamstring) is listed as doubtful.

Click here for today's complete injury reports for both the Jets and Jaguars.

Smith could factor into a revamping of the Jets’ kickoff return group, with Rex saying today of Justin Miller not returning kickoffs, “That’s a real possibility. We’ll see. We’re always into what’s in the best interests of us. If we think Lowery or Brad Smith gives us our best opportunity in our return game, then that’s what we’ll do.”

Sunday's "Flight Plan"

Highlights of "Jets Flight Plan" on WCBS-TV Channel 2 at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday:

■ Rex Ryan discusses what the Jets need to do to have a successful second half and reach the playoffs.

■ In honor of military appreciation week, the Flight Plan cameras hop aboard the USS New York, where owner Woody Johnson, several players and the Flight Crew got a chance to check out one of the Navy's newest vessels.

■ The show takes a look back at the career of one of the greatest receivers in franchise history, Don Maynard.

Nick's Thick Itinerary

If you remember hearing C Nick Mangold several times on ESPN Tuesday, it won't be an accident. Nick will be spending the day at the ESPN studios in Bristol, Conn., and his itinerary includes 13 visits at eight different platforms — ESPN.com chat, digital media, a Football Today podcast, and various tapings with ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNEWS and ESPN Radio. For such a media whirlwind, here's to Mangold having a big Jets victory to weave into his multiple conversations.