Saturday, September 14, 2013

Sanchez expects to start upon return from IR

BY NICK ST. DENIS

The New York Jets still refuse to name Geno Smith the permanent starting quarterback despite placing Mark Sanchez on injured reserve Saturday.

Their leverage? Sanchez is designated to return Week 11 after rehabbing his shoulder.

Sanchez, meanwhile, isn't ready to give Smith the job, either. The veteran signal-caller is committed to helping the rookie along through his remaining starts, but Sanchez is going along as if the starting job is his when he returns.

"I'm expecting to be the starter," Sanchez told reporters Saturday, via Kimberley A. Martin of Newsday. "I always have."

The incumbent Sanchez battled with Smith for the first-string gig all spring and summer and was the leader in the clubhouse before injuring his shoulder in the third week of the preseason. Smith was given the job by default and was impressive Week 1 but struggled Week 2.

Jets general manager John Idzik told the media Saturday that the quarterback competition is still "week-to-week."

And to everyone's entertainment, the Jets continue to drive their local media nuts. We mean that in the nicest way possible, of course.

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