Though the Jets still are playing coy about Tim Tebow’s depth-chart status, coach Rex Ryan sure dropped a lot of hints yesterday.
Tebow will travel to Jacksonville for Sunday’s matchup with the Jaguars despite injured ribs, but Ryan listed Tebow as questionable, said he would not perform his duties as punt protector, indicated Tebow wouldn’t run any Wildcat plays and left open the possibility of having three quarterbacks active for the game.
Ryan also said Tebow would test his ribs with a workout tomorrow morning and his status would be “a gametime decision,” all of which — combined with Greg McElroy’s game-winning performance last week — would seem to indicate McElroy will be Mark Sanchez’s top backup in the game.
But, as always with the Jets’ bizarre handling of Tebow this year, the outcome is anyone’s guess.
“As far as Tim is concerned, we want to make sure,” Ryan said. “He’s done more this week in practice, quite a bit more. We want to see how he travels and what he feels like on game day. We’ll probably work him out before the game just to make sure he’s ready to go before we make that decision.”
McElroy told reporters he hasn’t been informed of his status either way and it was impossible for him to tell from practice repetitions because the Jets relegate their backups to scout-team duty during the regular season.
Ryan praised McElroy for his reaction to the top of the Jets’ quarterback depth chart remaining unchanged this week despite leading the team to a 7-6 comeback against Arizona in place of Sanchez.
“He’s been fantastic — I mean, absolutely fantastic,” Ryan said. “I think it’s a great example to the rest of the guys that you never know when your number’s going to be called.”
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* As expected, Sanchez will be without his favorite target Sunday after tight end Dustin Keller was listed as doubtful on the injury report because of an ankle sprain.
Sanchez also will be short at receiver after Clyde Gates (concussion) is listed as out. Gates has not been cleared and was wearing sunglasses in the locker room because of continued sensitivity to light.Along with Tebow, the Jets are listing DT Sione Po’uha (lower back) and WR Stephen Hill (knee) as questionable.
Defensive tackle Damon Harrison is doubtful with an ankle injury.
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* The Jaguars be without four starters, including running backs Maurice Jones-Drew (foot) and Rashad Jennings (concussion) and key wideout Cecil Shorts (concussion). Cornerback Aaron Ross, a former Giants first-round pick, also was ruled out because of a calf injury.
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The primary argument against Tebow in the NFL has been that going to him usually requires changing your entire offense to a college-style option attack, but Ryan said the Jets wouldn’t necessarily do that if forced to resort to Tebow.
“Absolutely,” Ryan said when asked if he is confident Tebow could run a conventional, pro-style NFL offense. “The fact he could [also] do the [option] would present some issues for defenses.”
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Arizona defensive tackle Darnell Dockett has received a “six-figure” fine from the Cardinals for his behavior in the waning seconds of Sunday’s loss to Jets, a person with knowledge of the situation confirmed to the Associated Press.
Dockett refused to go along with a coach’s directive to allow the Jets to score late in the game so the Cardinals could get the ball back and go for the tying TD.
He indicated in a tweet that he was appealing through the players’ union.