Rex Ryan is sticking with Mark Sanchez.
The Jets have announced that Sanchez, who was benched on Sunday in favor of third-stringer Greg McElroy, will start on Sunday in Jacksonville. Jets coach Rex Ryan informed the team at a meeting this morning that Sanchez will remain the starter, and the team confirmed that Ryan will address the issue at a press conference today.
The news reinforces the long-held belief that the Jets are wedded to Sanchez as their starter: Ryan has always insisted that Sanchez is the franchise quarterback, the team has a significant financial commitment to him, and until Sunday’s game against the Cardinals, Ryan’s commitment had never wavered.
Still, after Ryan’s commitment did waver on Sunday, and after McElroy came in and led the Jets to their only touchdown in a 7-6 victory, there was plenty of sentiment that McElroy should get a chance to show what he can do. (There wasn’t much sentiment for Tim Tebow to get the job, even though Tebow had been ahead of McElroy on the depth chart all season.)
Now Sanchez gets an opportunity to improve in a game against an easy opponent, the 2-10 Jaguars. If Sanchez throws this game away, it might be his last chance.