A large man, even by NFL standards, moved alone through the Jets' practice complex Wednesday, wearing a T-shirt, gym shorts and running shoes instead of a green jersey, pads and a helmet. The New York Jets somehow have forged ahead without Kris Jenkins, the 340-pound nose tackle who served as the foundation of their defense until he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in a loss to Buffalo on Oct. 18. Lost for the season, he jokes that he is on vacation now. Jenkins plans to watch the Jets' playoff game Saturday against the Cincinnati Bengals on TV at home because his knee, surgically repaired, has not recovered to the point that he could stand on the sideline and watch. He cannot absorb even a glancing blow. 'It's a safety issue,' Jenkins said as he put his workout clothes in a laundry bag. 'Like I've said, I need to heal.' He said he was not surprised the Jets finished as the No. 1-ranked defense in the league without him. Sione Pouha, Howard Green, Marques Douglas and Mike DeVito have stood in for Jenkins during his absence, and he said all four had played well. In fact, the Jets have given up an average of 88.4 rushing yards in the 10 games Jenkins missed, compared with 115.7 in the six games he played. Getting hurt, Jenkins said, was a bad thing -- but a good thing, too. 'You have to understand that a football team is not just one superstar -- not that I'm a superstar, but it's just one of those things, we need that chemistry,' he said. Referring to his injury, Jenkins said: 'It was just that spark that pulled the guys together. It's been at my expense, but it can't be about one individual. It's a group of guys. I knew they would step up. We understand what we have here. It's not a popularity contest.' His teammates see him every day in the locker room as his rehabilitation continues. Jenkins laughed when he said playing on the defensive line was not like reinventing the wheel, but he will offer advice when asked. The Jets seem to be doing fine without him, though. 'I still wish he could fly to the games, and I wish he could stand on the sidelines, because a veteran player like him can see things we don't see on the field,' Douglas said. The Jets' defensive line will be tested Saturday. The Bengals like to run the ball, and Cedric Benson, their leading rusher, will return to action after missing the 37-0 loss to the Jets last Sunday. David Harris, the Jets' middle linebacker and leading tackler, did not practice again Wednesday because of a sprained ankle, although coach Rex Ryan said, 'I think he'll go just because he's the guy he is.' Pouha, who replaced Jenkins in the starting lineup, said: 'I don't think there can be a chip on your shoulder when you have the No. 1 defense in the world. I don't think we have anything to prove to ourselves.' Maybe they do. Mike Pettine, the defensive coordinator, said he thought that the word 'journeymen' -- referring to the defensive linemen without Jenkins -- was still written in the line's meeting room at the complex. 'They refused to be the weak link,' Pettine said. Jenkins said: 'I'm still a part of this team, and that's not going to change. I'll be honest with you: If we win the Super Bowl, I'm going to wear that ring proudly, even though I did only play in six games.' 