National Football League

Jets DE Ellis has broken hand, expects to play

Published Jan. 18, 2010 10:25 p.m. ET

foxsports

New York Jets defensive end Shaun Ellis has a broken left hand that will require surgery, but he expects to play in the AFC championship against Indianapolis.

Ellis was injured on the Jets' first defensive play in their 17-14 win at San Diego on Sunday. He said Monday that his hand ``just gave out'' when he was blocked by an offensive lineman.

``I tried to just finish that series out,'' Ellis said. ``Then, once I got to the sideline, I was like, 'You know what, my hand is broken.' Then, they checked and were like, 'Yeah, you're right, it is.'''

Ellis, third on the team's career sacks list, had the hand placed in a cast that was wrapped up like a club and he later returned to the game. X-rays after the game confirmed the extent of the injury.

He said he'll have surgery to insert screws into the hand after the game against the Colts, whether the Jets win or not. If the Jets win Sunday, Ellis' hand would have two weeks to heal before the Super Bowl.

Ellis could've had the procedure this week, but the skin wouldn't have healed in time for him to play in the game.

``The skin would've burst back open,'' Ellis said. ``So I have to go suck it up, cast it up again and just go out there and play.''

Ellis had one tackle against the Chargers, but was limited after he came back in. He missed a sack on Philip Rivers because he couldn't use the hand to pull him down, and Mike DeVito played primarily in his place on first and second downs.

Coach Rex Ryan said the team will try to develop a better cast for him to wear against the Colts.

``We're going to let him think that it's no big deal,'' Ryan said of the injury. ``We hope that we can come up with something for him so he can function a little better with it.''