Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez is recovering from knee surgery and not participating in team drills during OTAs, but coach Rex Ryan says Sanchez has made more progress in his recovery than the team expected by this point in the offseason.
“He’s doing fantastic,’' Ryan said Thursday. “He’s probably ahead of where we thought he’d be.’'
While Sanchez recovers, Kellen Clemens is running the first-string offense in team drills. An overeager Sanchez actually participated in one play of 11-on-11 today, but Ryan got him off the field after a handoff.
“I was like, ‘Whoa, whoa, whoa! What’s he doing?’'' Ryan said. “It’s a run. Oh, OK. . . . Hand the ball off, and get out of the way.’'
Sanchez is able to run on the Jets’ grass practice field and expects to be 100 percent before the start of training camp.