The New York Jets host the Indianapolis Colts in NFL Week 13 action

Nick Mangold landed on injured reserve with an ankle injury this year. (John Munson | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

FLORHAM PARK -- Jets center Nick Mangold said Wednesday "of course" he wants to return to the team next season, for the final year of his contract. He also said he hasn't considered retirement.

"Shoot, I love football," he said. "I miss it dearly. I'm planning on playing. I want to keep playing football, and I want to do it here."

Mangold, who turns 33 in January, played just eight games this season because of a lingering ankle injury that eventually landed him on injured reserve.

He's not sure yet if he'll need surgery. But even if he does have surgery, he said doctors have told him he'll be ready in time for training camp next year. Mangold said he'll know in two or three weeks if he needs surgery.

Mangold is due to count $9.075 million against the Jets' salary cap next season. But they would save that full amount, with no dead money attached, if they cut him. That has raised questions about Mangold's future with the organization.

Mangold on Wednesday declined to say if he'd be willing to take a pay cut for next season, if the Jets ask him to do so as a condition for his return. He also declined to specify the nature of his ankle injury.

Regarding his murky future with the Jets, Mangold said only this: "I figure we'll cross that bridge when we get to it. Right now, the only thing I worry about is getting better. After that, we'll figure it out."

He has been the Jets' center since they drafted him in Round 1 in 2006. Before this season, he missed just four games in his entire career -- two in 2011 and one each in 2014 and 2015.

Mangold is a seven-time Pro Bowler, most recently from 2013-15, and was a first-team All-Pro in 2009 and 2010. Even as he recovers from this ankle injury, he believes he is still capable of playing at a high level.

"No qualms about that," he said.

Darryl Slater may be reached at dslater@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DarrylSlater. Find NJ.com Jets on Facebook.