CORTLAND, N.Y. -- Rookie wide receiver Shaq Evans, one of three fourth-round picks by the New York Jets, could be lost for the season after suffering a shoulder injury Thursday in practice.

The Jets could be without rookie wide receiver Shaq Evans for the season after he suffered a shoulder injury. Bill Kostroun/AP Photo

Coach Rex Ryan called it a significant injury, indicating Evans might end up on season-ending injured reserve.

"That shoulder looks pretty bad," Ryan said Tuesday after practice. "We'll see how that goes, but it doesn't look good right now. We talked to him about it, too. He had the other shoulder [injury] before. But this one seems to be bothering him a lot more. This looks like a severe injury."

Evans didn't play in the intrasquad scrimmage Saturday night and has been limited in practice, wearing the red, no-contact jersey. He was inconsistent early in training camp, flashing deep speed but also dropping several passes.

After passing on several big-name receivers in the first three rounds, the Jets tried to address the need by picking three receivers on the third day of the draft -- Jalen Saunders and Evans in the fourth round, and Quincy Enunwa in the sixth. Enunwa missed the first week of camp with a hip injury, falling behind.

Fortunately for the Jets, they have depth at receiver. Saunders probably will stick as the fifth or sixth receiver, primarily because of his punt-returning ability. Evans, who began his college career at Notre Dame, played the last three seasons for UCLA, finishing last season with 47 catches, 709 yards and nine touchdowns.

Fellow rookie Calvin Pryor, who suffered a concussion 10 days ago, will sit out the preseason opener Thursday night against the Indianapolis Colts. The hard-hitting safety, who returned to practice Monday, was cleared to play. Ryan had been holding out hope his first-round pick could play a little, but he decided to keep him out as a precaution.

"Let's get him a fresh start next week and make sure everything is good," Ryan said. "I think that will be good for him. I was debating, 'Do we throw him out there?' At the end of the day, let's take the cautious approach, give him a couple of days and let him have at it."