CORTLAND — It’s official: Kellen Clemens has been designated to start Friday night’s preseason opener against the Rams at the Meadowlands.
But Mark Sanchez is scheduled to play with the starters, too, coach Rex Ryan revealed yesterday.
Neither would play beyond the first half.
“Sanchez will get work with the 1’s, but when exactly that will be and for how long is not determined,” Ryan said.
“I would expect [Erik] Ainge to get the majority of the snaps this game, and we’ll get Harvard [Chris Pizzotti] in there for a series or so.”
Ryan said he has to “take into account” two starting offensive linemen (center Nick Mangold and right tackle Damien Woody) are not playing.
Based on the way Ryan and offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer have run the QB competition, with each guy getting similar reps, look for Sanchez to start the second preseason game, in Baltimore.
Ryan wouldn’t confirm that, saying, “That would be your assumption, but we really haven’t determined that yet.”
Ryan has said he’d like to decide on a starter before the third preseason game, so it would only be fair for Sanchez to start the second.
Both Sanchez, who worked with the starters, and Clemens, working with the second team, looked sharp throwing in yesterday’s morning practice.
Sanchez completed 2 of 4 passes in 11-on-11 drills and also completed a two-point conversion pass to wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery in traffic at the goal line.
Clemens, who was sharp in Monday’s practice, was 2-of-2 in 11-on-11s and he, too, completed a two-point conversion pass. His, however, came after a fumbled snap, scramble and Hail Mary fling to WR Britt Davis, who made a leaping catch in the back of the end zone.
It was a good moment for Davis, who had a couple of bad drops in the Thursday night scrimmage.
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Woody (head), Mangold (knee), nose tackle Kris Jenkins (calf) and cornerback Darrelle Revis (hamstring) didn’t practice again yesterday, and won’t play Friday. Fullback Tony Richardson (hip pointer) “has a chance” to play, according to Ryan.