NEW YORK — Mark Sanchez’s 2013 season is officially over — and most likely, so is his Jets career.
NEW YORK — Mark Sanchez’s 2013 season is officially over — and most likely, so is his Jets career.
In an expected and long-awaited move, the Jets announced the 26-year-old quarterback underwent surgery on his throwing shoulder late Tuesday afternoon. The news came only a day after rookie quarterback Geno Smith led the Jets to a 30-28 upset in Atlanta on Monday Night Football.
Sanchez put off season-ending surgery for several weeks in hopes of rehabilitating the torn labrum in his right shoulder. But despite signs of progress during periodic visits with surgeon James Andrews, he was told he couldn’t delay the inevitable any longer.
“After over seven weeks of hard work and intense rehab, I’ve been advised by Dr. Andrews and other doctors that my shoulder injury clearly needs to be addressed surgically,” Sanchez said in a statement posted to the team’s website.
“The injury was recovering at an encouraging rate early on, and I avoided surgery as long as I could, but ultimately I was counseled by the doctors that they simply would have to repair my shoulder.”
For the first time since his rookie season, Sanchez arrived for the Jets’ offseason conditioning program in competition for the starting job. It appeared he was on his way to beating out Smith until he was injured.
With a Snoopy Trophy at stake Aug. 24 in Week 3 of the preseason against the Giants, Rex Ryan inexplicably inserted Sanchez early in the fourth quarter behind a makeshift offensive line of backups.
Sanchez was standing eating sunflower seeds on the sideline with other starters, and he had been given no prior indication that he would play in the fourth quarter. But instead of inserting first-year quarterback Matt Simms, who had been spotted warming up, the Jets tabbed Sanchez to replace Smith, who threw three interceptions in his first start of the preseason.
Sanchez was sacked on his first play. After he completed a 23-yard pass on the next play, he was drilled in the shoulder by defensive tackle Marvin Austin.
Although the Jets were aware Sanchez wouldn’t be healthy enough for Week 1 of the regular season, for weeks they labeled his injury “day-to-day.”
Last month, general manager John Idzik placed Sanchez on injured reserve, with a designation to return to action in eight weeks. But to the surprise of no one, their “day-to-day” diagnosis has given way to a season-ending injury and the end of Sanchez’s tenure with the team.
“Throughout this process, our goal has been to provide Mark every opportunity to return this season,” general manager John Idzik said in a statement. “He and our medical staff have worked very diligently to that end and now it has been concluded that surgery is required. He will have our full support for a complete recovery.”
Sanchez’s AFC Championship Game appearances in his first two seasons have long since been overshadowed by his recent struggles — namely his NFL-leading 52 turnovers in 2011 and 2012 and, worse yet, his infamous “butt fumble” last season against the Patriots.
“I’m very disappointed that I can’t be out there to help my team on the field, but I’ll continue to help our team in whatever capacity I can,” Sanchez said in the statement.
“I want to thank Dr. Montgomery, Dr. Andrews, Dr. Burns and Jets trainer John Melody for helping me through this process and advising me along the way. All doctors expect a full recovery and I look forward to getting back on the field. Until then, Go Jets!”