Santonio Holmes returned to game action Sunday for the first time since injuring his foot last September. Holmes had just one catch for 13 yards and played 45 snaps in the New York Jets 18-17 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Holmes had begun the preseason on the physically unable to perform list for the Jets before being activated late in the preseason. He didn’t play in any of the Jets’ preseason games, but did become more involved in practice as the season approached. It was still a question mark whether Holmes would even play Sunday until close to game time.
But Holmes did play and got through the game without any further issues.
“I survived,” Holmes said, via Dennis Waszak Jr. of the Associated Press. “That’s probably the biggest thing I can say right now, is that I survived and got through it OK. No injuries, so pretty good.”
Holmes played more than half of the Jets’ offensive snaps as he’s being eased back into full-time duty. Holmes himself has been somewhat reserved when discussing how he was feeling this preseason and how the injury was progressing. He seemed to be more pessimistic than most that he’d be ready to go by the start of the season. However, when the game finally arrived Holmes felt he could have played even more than he did and was “frustrated” when he had to come to the sidelines.
“It’s football season,” he said. “It’s go-time. No point of holding anything back right now. But like I said, I have to respect the (plan) the coaches and the trainers have for me.”
With a thin group at receiver, the Jets need Holmes to provide a spark. Making it through the opening test without any problems is a good first step.