Dr. James Andrews confirmed Wednesday that Mark Sanchez has a labral tear in his right shoulder, and the New York Jets quarterback is "likely to have surgery" that would end his 2013 season, according to team and league sources, as well as a source close to Sanchez.
Sanchez still was trying to make a final decision on whether to have the surgery now to repair the tear and instability in the shoulder following his injury in the team's third preseason game, the sources said.
Sanchez could opt to rehab the shoulder in an effort to play at some point this season, sources said, but still likely would need surgery at the end of the year.
Sanchez, replying to a text message, told ESPN late Wednesday night: "If I needed surgery right now, I never would have left Andrews' office. I would've stayed and got the surgery." Asked if he wanted to deny that he was likely to have surgery, Sanchez texted: "There's nothing to report. It's reckless."
A source close to the quarterback said it would make no sense for Sanchez to delay the inevitable under the circumstances of the injury and the team's commitment to rookie Geno Smith.
Sanchez, who saw Dr. Andrews in Gulf Breeze, Fla., is expected to make the decision on surgery within the next day or two, sources said.
A labrum will not heal itself; once it is torn, it is torn until it is repaired. The question is whether a player can function adequately despite the tear. It is not a career-threatening injury.
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SOURCE: ESPN
Chris Mortensen
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