NFL notes: Sanchez, Ryan hoping QB can come back

Mark Sanchez is still focused on coming back this season for the New York Jets.

Coach Rex Ryan thinks it could happen.

Sanchez, hurt in the team's third preseason game, is rehabilitating his injured right shoulder rather than immediately having season-ending surgery. The exact nature of the injury has not been revealed, although some published reports say it is a torn labrum.

"If we didn't think it'd be realistic that Mark would get on the field, then he would be put on IR," Ryan said Friday. "And that's not the case."

Sanchez visited Dr. James Andrews this week to take another look at his shoulder, a decision that was agreed upon mutually by the team doctors and the quarterback. In an interview with NFL Network before the Jets' 13-10 loss to the Patriots on Thursday, Sanchez said he was not planning on having surgery anytime soon, but instead wanted to continue to rehabilitate with his sights set on playing again this year.

"He's doing a great job in rehab," Ryan said, "and our doctors and our trainers are pleased."

Sanchez appeared to have an edge in the tightly contested quarterback competition after rookie Geno Smith struggled with three interceptions in the preseason game against the Giants. But, Ryan decided to play Sanchez in the fourth quarter, a call for which the coach has taken a lot of criticism since it was in garbage time when Sanchez took a crunching hit from Marvin Austin.

Around the league

Broncos • Cornerback Champ Bailey will miss his second straight game because of a lingering left foot sprain that has sidelined him since Aug. 17.

Packers • Linebacker Clay Matthews was fined $15,000 for a hit on San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick during the teams' season opener.

Colts • Starting running back Vick Ballard will miss the rest of the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. Coach Chuck Pagano said Ballard was hurt making a cut in practice Thursday. —

Week 2 schedule

Thursday

• New England 13, N.Y. Jets 10

Sunday

• Dallas at Kansas City, 11 a.m.

• Tennessee at Houston, 11 a.m.

• Washington at Green Bay, 11 a.m., Ch. 13

• Minnesota at Chicago, 11 a.m.

• St. Louis at Atlanta, 11 a.m.

• San Diego at Philadelphia, 11 a.m., Ch. 2

• Miami at Indianapolis, 11 a.m.

• Cleveland at Baltimore, 11 a.m.

• Carolina at Buffalo, 11 a.m.

• Detroit at Arizona, 2:05 p.m.

• New Orleans at Tampa Bay, 2:05 p.m.

• Jacksonville at Oakland, 2:25 p.m.

• Denver at N.Y. Giants, 2:25 p.m., Ch. 2

• San Francisco at Seattle, 6:30 p.m., Ch. 5

Monday

• Pittsburgh at Cincinnati, 6:40 p.m., ESPN