Jets cornerback Ty Law may be ready to play tomorrow.

AP / ED Betz

FOXBORO — Ty Law took part in his first practice with the Jets yesterday, and told reporters at the team’s Florham Park, N.J. facility that he was “pretty close” to returning to New England before opting to sign with New York.

Law said he had spoken with Patriots’ officials as recently as last week about coming back to the team that drafted him in the first round in 1995.

In a conference call with reporters yesterday, Jets coach Eric Mangini said “there is definitely a shot” that Law, who hasn’t played since the Chiefs’ season finale last year, will play tomorrow night against the Patriots.

Though Mangini acknowledged that the Jets had been talking with Law during the offseason and once the regular season began, when asked about the timing of the signing, he said that this week was the first opportunity the two sides had to hammer out a deal.

Patriots players who were teammates with Law during his tenure with the team said it would be different seeing him lined up on the other side.

Preparing for tomorrow

Bill Belichick said he and his staff will have to find a middle ground between making sure the Patriots players are prepared but “not at the expense of having them tired or dragging during the game.”

To that end, Belichick elected to have his team go through a walkthrough yesterday rather than have a practice with shells (light pads).

Though it was such a light workout, the team still submitted an injury/participation report, with RB LaMont Jordan (right calf), CB Lewis Sanders (hamstring), CB Terrence Wheatley (left wrist) and LB Adalius Thomas (right forearm) not participating.

LB Eric Alexander (hamstring), RB Sammy Morris (left knee), G Stephen Neal (knee) and DE Ty Warren (groin) were all limited.

It’s news that Morris was a participant; he has not taken part in practice since injuring his knee against Denver on Oct. 20. Ellis Hobbs (shoulder) and Vince Wilfork (toe) were removed from the list.

For the Jets, receivers Laveranues Coles (thigh), Jerricho Cotchery (shoulder) and Brad Smith (shoulder) were limited; LB David Harris (groin) did not participate.

smanza@projo.com