Mark Sanchez, who continues to participate on a limited basis in the Jets’ organized team activities (OTAs), is pushing for more action. But the Jets coaching and medical staffs are pushing back, playing it safe with his surgically repaired knee.
Right now, Sanchez is working in 7-on-7 drills throwing the ball, but is not doing any full team 11-on-11 work — something he’s itching to do.
“I’m trying,” Sanchez said after today’s workout. “I’m asking every day and it’s a stern, ‘No,’ immediately. But that’s the kind of mentality you want the coaches to have in that they’re protecting me, and that’s the kind of mentality the coaches want me to have — that I’m aggressive and want to play.
“It’s not worth taking a chance. What if someone falls or I have to move too quick and am not ready for it yet? So we’re taking it slow and being smart.”
Sanchez said he “feels really good.”
“The most important thing is trusting your leg,” he said. “There’s a mental recovery to this, too, a psychological side, telling yourself you’re fine, ready to come back, that I’m OK, to step on your foot, put all weight on it and let those throws go. The first two days I got my feet under me and today I felt better.”
Asked if he will be able to move into full team drills for the June 14-16 minicamp, which Sanchez said has been his goal, he said, “I don’t know how I’ll feel in next couple of weeks. I do know I’m feeling better every day. I haven’t had any regressions and that’s huge.”
There, however, is more work to do.
“I haven’t tried to sprint, haven’t tried to scramble and I haven’t had to move in the pocket real quickly,” Sanchez said. “In 7-on-7s the drop is pretty scripted. That would be the only question left — the reaction time and quickness.”
Coach Rex Ryan said today that he doesn’t “feel comfortable right now” having Sanchez practice fully.
“I don’t want to risk that right now, because you’ve got bodies flying around,” Ryan said. “I think we just need to stay on the course and in due time he’ll be out there. We all know he’s going to be ready to roll. It’s just that we don’t need to have any setbacks.”