The longest-tenured Jets player may be sticking around for at least another season.
The Jets are considering re-signing free-agent outside linebacker Bryan Thomas, according to two sources.
Thomas missed most of the 2011 season with a torn left Achilles tendon, but he has been rehabilitating the injury and expects to be 100 percent for next season.
The Jets selected Thomas, 32, in the first round of the 2002 NFL Draft. When they let go defensive end Shaun Ellis last summer, Thomas became the longest-tenured Jet. Thomas’ 145 games played are the fourth-most for a linebacker in team history.
He suffered the season-ending injury on Oct. 2 in a 34-17 loss to the Ravens. Many in the organization felt the loss of Thomas severely hindered the team’s defense, and the team never found a stable replacement for him. Jamaal Westerman, Garrett McIntyre, Josh Mauga and Aaron Maybin all spent time in Thomas’ spot.
Thomas spent the rest of the season working out at the Jets’ training center, so the team’s doctors should have a good idea of how healthy Thomas is.
It is unclear what role the Jets would bring back Thomas in. Maybin emerged last season as the team’s best pass rusher. The Jets could use a combination of Thomas on running downs with Maybin entering in pass situations.
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If you believe Mike Tannenbaum, Wayne Hunter will remain in the team’s starting lineup in 2012.
The Jets general manager said Hunter is the team’s starting right tackle in an interview on WFAN yesterday. Hunter had a rough season in 2011 when he replaced Damien Woody as the team’s starting tackle.
“We expect Wayne back,” Tannenbaum said. “We expect him to be our starter. We need more consistent line play. There’s no question about that … We expect him to play better this year.”
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Tannenbaum touched on a few topics in the interview. He said it’s “hard to say” if running back LaDainian Tomlinson will return. Tannenbaum said they have talked, but Tomlinson is still unsure if he wants to play. Tomlinson has told friends if he does play in 2012 it will not be with the Jets.
As for disgruntled linebacker Bart Scott, Tannenbaum said the veteran is still on the roster and they will let everyone know if that changes. Not exactly a strong endorsement.
“We’ll see what we can work out with Bart either being here or not,” he said. “We’re not in a bad position. He had some issue during the season that we’re trying to address, and we appreciate his passion.”
Three years ago, the Jets pursued Scott just after the free agency period began at midnight. Tannenbaum said he does not anticipate the Jets chasing any big free agents the minute free agency begins this year on March 13.
“We’re really looking to try to keep our own initially and then kind of going from there,” he said. “I don’t expect that. This league is filled with unexpected opportunities, and I do pride myself on [looking under] every rock, every day, but I don’t foresee that this year.”
brian.costello@nypost.com