New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez reportedly fears the team is trying to quietly get rid of him by placing him on the injured reserve list. After naming Geno Smith the starter for Week 1, Jets owner Woody Johnson said Sanchez should have protected himself from getting injured.
"(Sanchez) believes the organization wants to see him placed on (IR) and be done with him," a source close to Sanchez told USA Today Sports. "... (Sanchez fears the) organization has turned its back on (him) and is prepared to move on. It is ready to start fresh with Geno."
The source also said Sanchez believes the Jets think placing him on IR would make the transition to Smith "cleaner and easier."
A timetable for Sanchez's return hasn't been announced, and Jets coach Rex Ryan didn't offer much in the way of job security for the 26-year-old quarterback.
"He's just not ready right now," Ryan told the team website, via ESPN. "We'll see what the future holds as we move forward, but clearly right now he's not ready."
Ryan said earlier in the week placing Sanchez on IR, which could end the quarterback's season, wasn't something they were currently looking at, but he didn't rule it out either. After signing Brady Quinn, the Jets now have four quarterbacks on the roster.
Sanchez, who suffered a shoulder injury in the fourth quarter of the third preseason game, also received questionable support from Jets owner Woody Johnson. On Wednesday, Johnson spoke about Sanchez playing in the third preseason.
"I don't have regrets," Johnson said, via NY Daily News. "I wish he hadn't gotten hurt, but you got to protect yourself too."
It's uncertain what Johnson meant by that - Sanchez did what his coach told him.
John Idzik, the Jets' new general manager, has long appeared to prefer having Smith start under center. Idzik, however, inherited his predecessor's questionable decision to extend Sanchez's contract in 2012 and guarantee his salary through the 2013 season.
Sanchez counts for $12.9 million against the 2013 salary cap; if he's released, he'll count for $4.8 million against the cap next season, according to USA Today Sports.
For better or worse, the Jets appear stuck with Sanchez for at least another year.
