FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) - Mark Sanchez took it easy in practice and might do the same against the Buffalo Bills.
The New York Jets quarterback was limited again Friday with a sore right shoulder, but will start Sunday. How long he plays remains to be seen.
“We’ll see how it goes,” coach Rex Ryan said. “I just want to get him out there. The main thing is to stay in that routine, the preparation, and then get out there and get that blood flowing. I don’t believe it will be long.”
Sanchez, officially listed as probable, did mostly light work during the half-hour of practice the media are allowed to watch.
“We really never asked him to do much in practice today,” Ryan said. “We really didn’t. We were giving a lot of opportunities to (Mark) Brunell and Kellen Clemens. It’s not like he did anything bad. We were just giving those other guys opportunities.”
Sanchez was injured in the Jets’ 22-17 win at Pittsburgh two weeks ago, but performed well while playing most of that game with a sore shoulder. He was solid again last week in New York’s 38-34 loss at Chicago, despite being limited in practice.
The Jets (10-5) have already wrapped up a playoff spot, so the game against the Bills (4-11) doesn’t mean much _ other than the fact the team can reach 11 wins for only the fourth time in franchise history. Whether Sanchez plays a few series or a few quarters, Ryan has already said his starting quarterback won’t be in the game at the end.
“He’s just been doing good,” Ryan said. “We wouldn’t play him if we didn’t think he was ready to go.”
Starting cornerbacks Darrelle Revis (right hamstring) and Antonio Cromartie (groin) are questionable, and Ryan says it’s a possibility both might not play. That means rookie Kyle Wilson, Drew Coleman, Marquice Cole and Isaiah Trufant, the former United Football League defensive player of the year, could see increased playing time Sunday.
“If there’s a chance that they’re not feeling better with their hamstring and groin, then it would make more sense that we have them healthy for the playoffs,” Ryan said of Revis and Cromartie. “I’m not ruling them out, but we’ll see how it goes.”
Right tackle Damien Woody (right knee) and safety James Ihedigbo (right knee) have been ruled out. Safety Eric Smith (concussion) is doubtful, while defensive linemen Shaun Ellis (back), Sione Pouha (back) and Trevor Pryce (hip) are questionable.
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