Jets head coach Todd Bowles has said he liked the way rookie Juston Burris handled himself with an extended look at cornerback against the 49ers last week.
And with CB Buster Skrine missing only his second game in two seasons with the Green & White with injury (concussion), Bowles has plugged Burris into the starting lineup for his first pro start against the Dolphins tonight at MetLife Stadium.
And with OLB Mike Catapano (knee) also deactivated, first-year man Freddie Bishop is in line to get his first Jets start.
Brent Qvale will also get his fourth start of the season at RT and his second straight start, after being listed as doubtful with a hamstring injury on Friday. But if Qvale has trouble with his hammy during the game, rookie Brandon Shell is ready to step in again, as he did late in the fourth quarter and in overtime in the win over the Niners.
The Jets' O-line continues to have its injury concerns, but Bryce Petty is ever positive about operating behind the line and moving the Green & White offense against the Dolphins as well as or even better than he did in the second half against the Niners.
In part that's because he'll be working with his top two RBs in Matt Forte and Bilal Powell. Powell had a career game against the Niners once Forté left after six plays due to his achy knee, but Forté is in uniform and ready to combine talents with Powell again, this time against a Dolphins run defense that is 30th in the NFL in rush yards allowed per game and 31st in yards/carry.
The Jets' inactive list for this game:
■ QB Christian Hackenberg
■ RB Khiry Robinson
■ CB Buster Skrine
■ LB Mike Catapano
■ LB Lorenzo Mauldin
■ WR Jalin Marshall
■ NT Steve McLendon
Bowles' gamenight captains for this rematch with their longtime AFC East rivals are guards James Carpenter and Brian Winters and defensive linemen Muhammad Wilkerson and Sheldon Richardson.
The Jets will be wearing their green jerseys and white pants tonight. The referee is Pete Morelli.
