dee milliner.jpg

New York Jets cornerback Dee Milliner breaks up a pass intended for San Diego Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen during an NFL game on Oct. 5, 2014, in San Diego.

(AP Photo)

New York Jets cornerback Dee Milliner hasn't covered a receiver in a game since Oct. 12, 2014. That's when the former Alabama All-American suffered a torn Achilles tendon that sidelined him for the remainder of the 2014 NFL season.

"I want to be back out there and get a chance to be on defense and play," Milliner told reporters at the Jets' training camp.

Milliner didn't have any health concerns during the offseason and is eagerly awaiting the kickoff to the Jets' preseason schedule on Aug. 11, when New York hosts the Jacksonville Jaguars.

"I feel great," Milliner said. "Just been doing what I'm supposed to do -- my maintenance, continuing to stretch, keep my flexibility. Just been trying to do everything possible to stay healthy."

But that was essentially the same report that Milliner gave about himself in the first week of training camp last year. Then on Aug. 6, he tore a tendon in his right wrist at practice. The injury kept Milliner on the sidelines for all but the final five games of the 2015 season. When he returned, his playing time was limited to special teams.

Since being selected with the ninth pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, Milliner has missed 27 of the Jets' 48 regular-season games.

"It's just a year that I've got to go out there and play," Milliner said. "I can't be injured. I can't be on the sidelines. I've got to go out there and try to compete for a job, and if I do get the opportunity, try to make the best of it."

Despite all the missed time, Milliner said he thinks he can earn a starting position with the Jets this season. New York has four-time All-Pro Darrelle Revis at one cornerback, but released Antonio Cromartie, its other starting cornerback in 2015.

Buster Skrine, last year's slot corner, is supposed to have the inside track on filling the vacancy. But even if Milliner comes up short in the competition to replace Cromartie, the former Stanhope Elmore High School star also has the tools to play the slot spot.

"Hopefully, I can put a whole year together and we can have a great year this year," Milliner said. "... I'm praying and hoping that I can stay healthy."

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This season is a contract year for Milliner. He's in the final season of his four-year, $12,661,000 rookie deal.

The Jets had a fifth-year option on Milliner's contract, but decided not to use it. If New York had exercised its option, Milliner's salary for the 2017 season would have been $11.913 million.

Milliner said he didn't blame the Jets for not extending his contract.

"I wasn't angry because, like I said, I haven't put too much on paper," Milliner said. "Because I've been injured, I haven't played too much. Pretty much I knew it wasn't going to happen."

While Skrine and Marcus Williams might be considered ahead of Milliner on the depth chart right now, Revis said not to count out Milliner yet.

"I think he definitely had great spring ball,"

, "and he's having a great camp so far. You can tell he's motivated, and that's great. He's been set back with a lot of injuries throughout his career, and now he's healthy, so that's good. He's making a lot of strides."