Associated Press
The NFL notebook …
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — The New York Jets have watched as much film as they can gather on Tim Tebow, and still aren’t quite sure what to expect.
They know Denver’s quarterback will run a whole lot Thursday night in the Broncos’ unconventional option-style offense. But will he throw some, too? And, how much?
“You’re looking at formations or personnel groupings that tell you it’s going to be a pass, and it’s not with this group,” Jets coach Rex Ryan said Tuesday. “That’s a little different, but you better be sound and obviously assume he’s running with it.”
After spending last week preparing for New England’s Tom Brady, a quarterback they’ve had plenty of experience playing against, the Jets have only a few days to get ready for a player who’s a completely different type of opponent.
“You think of running quarterbacks, and most guys are a little more shifty and kind of got that make-you-miss (style),” safety Jim Leonhard said. “He’d rather run you over than run around you. It’s just different, a different mentality. He’s more like a fullback than a true tailback when he runs the football.”
Which is often. Tebow was just 2 of 8 passing for 69 yards in a 17-10 win at Kansas City last Sunday, but also ran for 43 yards on nine carries. The second-year quarterback has been criticized for not being an NFL-caliber passer, but he has won three of his four starts this season — mostly with his legs.
Tebow is 47 of 105 for 605 yards and seven touchdowns and just one interception, and is Denver’s second-leading rusher with 320 yards and two scores on only 48 carries.
“This is a college-style offense and it’s around Tim Tebow and it looks just like he’s at the University of Florida,” cornerback Darrelle Revis said. “He does a great job running it and we know he’s going to have his carries and we know he’s going to throw the ball. They have no choice but to throw the ball. They did it in the past, and they’re going to do it again.”
TEXANS
HOUSTON — Texans quarterback Matt Schaub hopes he can return this season from a foot injury, though he acknowledges “it doesn’t look good.”
Schaub injured a Lisfranc joint in his right foot in the second quarter of Sunday’s 37-9 win in Tampa Bay.
Coach Gary Kubiak called the injury “significant.”
Houston (7-3) has a bye this week. Matt Leinart will start the Texans’ next game, at Jacksonville on Nov. 27.
STEELERS QB
PITTSBURGH — Ben Roethlisberger has an unexpected homework assignment during the Pittsburgh Steelers’ bye week: protecting a fractured right thumb.
Roethlisberger injured the thumb on his throwing hand sometime during Pittsburgh’s 24-17 win over Cincinnati on Sunday. He’s not sure when it happened, only that he noticed it while coming out for the second half.
“It was hard to determine it on the sideline, but we did all the tests (Monday), and it’s fractured in there,” Roethlisberger said.
MORE JETS
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — LaDainian Tomlinson might have to sit this one out.
The New York Jets running back has a sprained medial collateral ligament in his left knee, and his status for the team’s game at Denver on Thursday night was uncertain.
REDSKINS
ASHBURN, Va. — The Washington Redskins have placed receiver Leonard Hankerson and defensive end Kedric Golston on injured reserve and re-signed receiver Donte’ Stallworth and defensive end Darrion Scott.
VIKINGS STADIUM
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Officials outside the Twin Cities have approved a land purchase, one of the steps needed for a new Minnesota Vikings stadium.
The Ramsey County Board approved purchasing 430 acres in suburban Arden Hills, north of St. Paul. The county will buy the former Army ammunition plant site for $28.5 million, contingent on the state finding the money to pay for the land.
The Vikings want to build a $1.1 billion stadium at the site. The team is asking for a partial subsidy from the state.