The Jets are already under pressure against the run, and have received another hit Tuesday, as they have lost starting linebacker Eric Barton for the 2005 season due to a torn left triceps suffered in Monday night's loss at Atlanta. The injury is such that it will require surgery and Barton will be placed on injured reserve. Barton, 28, was the Jets' leading tackler in 2004, with 125 stops, and also led the team in fumble recoveries, with three. In four games this season, he had 21 tackles. Barton now holds seven years of playing experience but was seeing his first action in a month on Monday, after missing three games with an ankle injury. The injury to his triceps has come only a few plays into his appearance, and is potentially a serious delay. Second-year veteran Mark Brown, who had started the three games Barton missed, likely will become the full-time starter now. Statistically, the Jets are ranked 29th in the NFL in defense. Losing Barton for the rest of the year certainly won't help the Jets to emerge out as victors. Signed as an unrestricted free agent in the spring of 2004, after spending the first five years of his career with the Oakland Raiders, Barton started all 16 games for the Jets in his first season with the team and proved to be a dependable two-way defender. He has 460 tackles, 12 sacks, three interceptions, 11 passes defense, six forced fumbles and four recoveries in his career.
