Jets' Sanchez limited during practice with sore left knee
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) -- New York Jets rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez was limited during the team's light practice Monday with a sore left knee, but should play against the Buffalo Bills in Toronto on Thursday.
Coach Rex Ryan said Sanchez had some soreness in the knee after he tweaked it in the Jets' 17-6 win over Carolina on Sunday. Sanchez downplayed it, saying he woke up Monday and the knee was fine, showing no concern that it might hamper him.
"It felt really good," Sanchez said. "The training staff looked at it this morning, stretched me out and we went through the walkthrough, pretty seamless. It feels fine. We'll see how it goes as the week goes on and make sure we take it slow and be smart about it."
Ryan said he thought Sanchez would be able to play against the Bills without any major limitations, despite the quick turnaround.
"I know he's sore, so we'll see how that goes," he said. "It is a short week ... but he finished the game. I thought he was still moving around pretty good, so hopefully he'll be 100 percent when we play."
Sanchez said he missed no snaps in Monday's practice, but Ryan listed him as limited anyway.
"I think it's appropriate to put him there because he did miss some time during the game," Ryan said. "And, he does have some soreness there."
Ryan also characterized the injury as a tweak without going into details.
"The tweak is good because nobody knows what that is, so tweak," he said. "I think he tweaked his knee. There's obviously no major damage, so that's the first thing."
With the Jets leading 14-3 Sunday, Sanchez scrambled to the sideline on first-and-10 from New York's 46 when he was tackled by Richard Marshall after an 8-yard gain. He went down, grabbing at the leg and giving the Jets a scare. He missed the next four offensive plays before returning and finishing the victory.
"I thought it almost looked like it scared him and that's why I was like, 'Just breathe. You'll be all right," Ryan said. "We're fortunate that that's probably what it was more than anything."