National Football League

Jets WR Holmes could miss few weeks

Published Oct. 1, 2012 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

First, the good news for the New York Jets: Santonio Holmes' left foot is not broken.

X-rays were negative on the wide receiver's foot after he was injured during the Jets' 34-0 loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.

Holmes is still expected to be sidelined for at least a few weeks, and that's bad news for an offense that is struggling mightily. Coach Rex Ryan said Monday that the team was awaiting results of an MRI exam, adding that they were ''shipped to different people.''

''I think depending on the severity of, I don't know the exact term, but if it's muscle, it could heal much quicker,'' Ryan said. ''If it's something else, ligaments or whatever, then it would take much longer. But, it's good news on the fact that the X-ray was negative.''

Holmes went down on the first play of the fourth quarter Sunday after catching a short pass, which he fumbled as he tossed the ball away, with Carlos Rogers returning it 51 yards for a touchdown. It was originally classified as a knee injury by the Jets, who lost star cornerback Darrelle Revis to a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.

The Jets are already without tight end Dustin Keller and rookie wide receiver Stephen Hill with hamstring issues, so not having Holmes leaves the receiving corps incredibly thin. It doesn't help that the Jets (2-2) take on the Houston Texans (4-0) next Monday night.

''Obvious, it looks doubtful for this week,'' Ryan said. ''Further than that, I'm not sure.''

Holmes leads the Jets with 20 catches for 272 yards and a touchdown this season. He and quarterback Mark Sanchez had their best game together last week at Miami, when Holmes caught nine passes for 147 yards.

''We have to play with what we've got,'' Sanchez said Sunday. ''It's going to be on me to be much more accurate that (Sunday) and last week and play week with the receivers we have. There's some great ability in that room, in that receiver room, so they'll have to pick up the slack.

The remaining healthy wide receivers are Chaz Schilens, who started for Hill, Jeremy Kerley, Clyde Gates and Patrick Turner.