FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - Eric Decker's balky right hamstring is acting up again.

The New York Jets wide receiver sat out practice Thursday with tightness in his leg, leaving his status uncertain for the team's game at San Diego on Sunday.

"Hopefully, Decker will be all right," coach Rex Ryan said. "I'm hopeful he'll play, but that was just something we felt, that it would be best to not have him practice today."

Decker was limited Wednesday, but participated only in individual drills Thursday before sitting out the rest of practice as a precaution.

"We're just trying to be smart," Decker said. "It's kind of a touch-and-feel situation with a hamstring. It's kind of my first time dealing with a soft tissue (injury). If it doesn't feel right, I just didn't want to push it overboard. So, it's kind of day to day."

Decker has been bothered by the hamstring since injuring it in Week 2 at Green Bay — which was actually an aggravation of an injury that first occurred during training camp. He said his hamstring felt tight when he woke up Thursday and couldn't get it loose.

"He just never felt right," Ryan said, "and that's why we just backed him down."

Decker has been listed as questionable before each of the last two games, but played in both. He had one catch for 19 yards against Chicago before being taken out of the game as a precaution. Decker bounced back with four catches for 48 yards and a touchdown while playing most of the game against Detroit before he felt a bit of fatigue in the second half.

"I felt good in the first half," he said. "I felt like I really had no setbacks, didn't really feel it too much. I wouldn't say that I was going 100 per cent, but I was definitely close."

Ryan said it can always be a concern that a hamstring issue could be a lingering issue, and Decker indicated that he has considered that.

"I don't think anything is better than rest, but it's hard as a competitor to say, 'All right, I'm just going to do nothing for two weeks,'" Decker said. "I want to be out there. If I can go in any capacity, I want to go. That's my mentality. Obviously, I just need to be smart with it. We'll have that conversation. We'll see how (Friday) is."

Decker might not be the only wide receiver who won't play at San Diego. David Nelson sat out practice for the second straight day with a sprained left ankle, and Ryan said there's "a chance" he could play — but not if he doesn't practice at all this week.

Nelson, who has six catches for 45 yards, said he will fly to San Diego with the team, whether he can play or not.

"I do feel very confident," Nelson said of his chances of playing. "I did a lot of work out there today that was definitely a step in the right direction."

Cornerback Dee Milliner (quadriceps) and safety Calvin Pryor were full practice participants after being limited Wednesday. Center Nick Mangold (shoulder) and right guard Willie Colon (knee) were limited, but are expected to play.

NOTES: Offensive co-ordinator Marty Mornhinweg on the struggling offence so far: "Some of the things, shoot, I'm sort of proud of. Some of our numbers are pretty good. But nothing probably to write home to Mom about. But, maybe Grandma. Grandmas, they think everything's great." ... Ryan, who was retained in the off-season, on whether it would be nice to have a vote of confidence from owner Woody Johnson about his status beyond this season: "No, hey, shoot, I'm not expecting a new salary at 1-3. Believe me, I'm just glad he never said another two words that he could have said."