Rook Smith drops chance to stand out

HOUSTON — Jets rookie wide receiver Devin Smith dropped a huge pass in the third quarter of Sunday’s loss to the Texans, and it sounds as if his coach is losing patience with him.

“Our rookies got to stop being rookies. They need to grow up,” coach Todd Bowles said when asked about Smith. “They get paid like everybody else and they’ve got to start acting like they’re not in college anymore.”

It looked as if Smith might make a huge play when Ryan Fitzpatrick threw a deep ball his way and it hit his hands, but he dropped what would have been a 46yard touchdown.

“I just didn’t catch it. I just didn’t catch it. Got to come down with it,” Smith said.

Smith was clearly down after the game, sit ting at his locker while getting consoled by wide receivers coach Karl Dorrell and fellow receiver Brandon Marshall.

“It’s tough, but I know my time is coming,” Smith said. “I’ll just keep working hard and when that day comes everyone will know.”

Center Nick Mangold left the game in the first half with a laceration on his right hand between his pinkie and ring finger and could not return. Xrays showed no break, but Mangold received stitches. He tried to snap the ball, but could not.

“I attempted, but I couldn’t get a firm grip on the ball,” he said. “That’s all I needed to do is roll a couple of snaps back there and really screw the team up.”

Mangold was unsure what caused the cut. He said he looked down at his hand and saw the blood. He will have an MRI exam on Monday to make sure there is no structural damage. Mangold said he was optimistic about playing next week against the Dolphins. It likely will depend on whether he can practice this week, though.

RB Chris Ivory injured his knee on his first play of the game, but was able to return. He did not sound concerned about it after the game. … CB Dee Milliner, a firstround pick in 2013, was inactive. Milliner battled an illness this week, missing practice on Wednesday and Thursday, but he was healthy enough to practice Friday. … DE Sheldon Richardson ( hamstring) was inactive.