Report: Sanchez out for season, set for surgery
New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez is expected to opt for season-ending surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder.
NFL Network first reported Sanchez will wait up to two weeks before making a final decision while on short-term injured reserve. After a visit Monday with orthopedist Dr. James Andrews, Sanchez was informed surgery would be required.
Sanchez is a free agent at the end of the 2013 season. It is highly likely his career with the franchise is over.
Sanchez was injured in the fourth quarter of the Jets' third preseason game against the New York Giants when he was hit by defensive tackle Marvin Austin. Sanchez was playing with the team's second unit. The injury paved the way for rookie second-round pick Geno Smith to start, bringing an abrupt end to the training camp competition between the quarterbacks.
General manager John Idzik said when the Jets placed Sanchez on short-term IR that they were "doing this in keeping with our primary goal of giving Mark every chance to return to practice and play this season, and paying attention to where he is in the rehab process and how he can best do that."
"Originally, his prognosis was pretty unpredictable and he's had a history of excellent rehab," Idzik said. "We've gone about three weeks now. We took a little time, Mark took a little time last week to get numerous medical opinions and, after weighing all those, the consensus was that this was the proper thing to do."
Idzik said surgery is not in the plans right now.
Sanchez told the NFL Network before the team's Week 2 loss at New England that he was the clear winner of the quarterback competition. Ryan responded the next day by saying, "I never said he won the competition. That's his opinion. It's not about a company line. Apparently, if that's what he said then that's his opinion. Again there is that ongoing competition."
