Leon Washington, the Jets' Pro Bowl running back and kick returner, arrived later than the other Jets to check in for the start of training camp Thursday. But he was on the field for both practices Friday and his teammates are happy to have him back and ready to tackle training camp together.
"Leon's my man," wide receiver Chansi Stuckey said. "I saw him first when he got in late last night. I'm just really happy to have him here and I hope everything works out."
Veteran fullback Tony Richardson had positive things to say as well about his backfield mate.
"It's great. The more guys we have here — and obviously we have full attendance right now — the better we're going to be," Richardson said. "Obviously, Leon's a playmaker and a big part of this football team, and we're excited to have him here."
Head coach Rex Ryan, who limited Washington's participation in the morning practice because he had just taken and passed his conditioning test at SUNY Cortland, said at his late-morning news conference:
"Like I said yesterday, we need Leon. A huge part of the success that we're going to have is when Leon's in there. Obviously we're happy that he's here."
The first practice of training camp did not stop players from going on Twitter to communicate about Washington's return, either. Kicker Jay Feely had this tweet:
"Best part of practice today was Leon Washington being there. We have our entire team and can begin our quest."
