Jets' Mason Taylor: Fifth straight practice absence

Taylor (neck) remained a non-participant at Thursday's practice, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports.

Taylor missed a fifth consecutive practice Thursday due to a neck injury, which kept him out of the Jets' Week 15 loss to Jacksonville. Barring a surprisingly abrupt recovery from Taylor, Jeremy Ruckert is set to continue filling in as the Jets' primary tight end Sunday against the Saints, with the latter fresh off signing a two-year extension.