TAMPA — Instead of opening the season at shortstop, Derek Jeter could wind up opening it on the disabled list.
General manager Brian Cashman acknowledged the possibility yesterday after Jeter had a cortisone shot to recover from inflammation in his left ankle.
“We can’t rule it out till we see how the next 10 days go,” Cashman said before the Yankees beat the Red Sox, 4-0, in a Grapefruit League game at Steinbrenner Field. “We’ve got to do what’s right for him. … I’m not saying he’ll be DL’d, but I can’t tell you he won’t be.”
After sending Jeter for X-rays and an MRI exam Tuesday, the Yankees consulted with doctors in North Carolina, who performed the surgery on the shortstop in October. He likely will have to stay off the field until at least the weekend.
“It’s not a surprise,” Cashman said of the development. “His rehab’s gone extremely well, but after the back-to-back [games at shortstop], it barked a little bit. We’ve just got to back off. … I don’t think it’s anything serious. I think it’s a timing issue.”
There might not be enough time before the season starts.
PHOTOS: YANKEES SPRING TRAINING
Jeter had been progressing well throughout spring training until he felt stiffness in the front of the ankle during his pregame routine in Clearwater on Tuesday, forcing him to be scratched.
If he is unable to go on April 1, it will be the first time he has missed a season opener since 2001, when he had a strained quad.
Eduardo Nunez, who played short yesterday, would take Jeter’s place at short.
“There is a reason [manager] Joe Girardi has played Eduardo Nunez at shortstop the entire spring,” Cashman said. “It was in the event if we ever have any issues as we move through this stuff, we’ll have someone ready to go.”
Though Nunez made an error yesterday, he has been improved defensively after a disastrous season in the field a year ago.
“I think he’s made a lot of progress,” Girardi said of Nunez, who has worked with infield coach Mick Kelleher on shortening his throwing motion.
“I feel so much more comfortable,” Nunez said. “I don’t throw too many balls in the stands no more.”
He is trying to avoid putting too much pressure on himself.
“Nobody replaces Derek Jeter,” Nunez said.
CC Sabathia, scheduled to start Opening Day, said he is more concerned with Jeter being on the field at the beginning of October than the beginning of April — especially after seeing how much Jeter’s absence was felt after he suffered the fractured ankle in Game 1 of the ALCS against Detroit last season.
“He broke his ankle less than six months ago,” Sabathia said. “Would you like to have him out there? Of course. But realistically, if not, then him being healthy in the long run is what you look for.”
Cashman said he believes Jeter will get to that point eventually.
“At some point it will dissipate and he’ll be passed it,” Cashman said.
Until then, the Yankees may have to deal with a lineup that doesn’t include Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Curtis Granderson and Mark Teixeira.
“We’ll hold down the fort until they come back,” Kevin Youkilis said.
Cashman said the team would survive.
“I was raised under The Boss, and under The Boss there are no excuses,” Cashman said of his days working for George Steinbrenner. “We have to find a way and we will. … We’re not gonna allow this to bury us. We just can’t.”
dan.martin@nypost.com