Santonio Holmes Injury: Mark Sanchez and Jets Will Suffer Without WR vs Jaguars

The New York Jets may have escaped largely unscathed from their exhilarating 27-24 opening win against the Dallas Cowboys, but that may not be the case against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday if Santonio Holmes isn't able to go.

The Jets' star wide receiver banged up his knee and quadriceps this week and is listed as questionable for Week 2. Holmes was one of three players for Gang Green, along with linebacker David Harris (toe) and safety Eric Smith (sprained ankle), whose availability in practice on Friday was limited.

Harris, the Jets' second-leading tackler behind Bart Scott, is expected to play Sunday. Holmes and Smith, on the other hand, are bigger question marks, though both have participated in position drills since coming down with their current knocks.

Despite these concerns, Holmes expressed confidence on Thursday that he would play this week, as reported by Rich Cimini of ESPN.

"Nothing to worry about. Game day is on Sunday," Holmes said.

Normally, there would be nothing to worry about and, against a team as bad as Jacksonville, there really shouldn't be. Sure, the Jags are 1-0 after beating Tennessee at home, 16-14, but they still project as one of the worst teams in the NFL, with Luke McCown taking snaps under center and Maurice Jones-Drew treading lightly on his cleaned-up right knee.

Sure, Mark Sanchez will miss Holmes, whom he targeted 10 times in Week 1 and who ended up with six catches for 70 yards, but he likely won't suffer too much if he has to redirect those throws to LaDainian Tomlinson, Plaxico Burress, Derrick Mason and Dustin Keller.

Especially against Jacksonville's pass defense, which was among the bottom five in the league in yards allowed and sacks last season and gave up the sixth-most passing touchdowns of any team.

"Sanchize" may not be a world beater, but he won't have to be against a Jags team that managed to put the ball in the end zone only once against a Titans defense that was average, at best, in 2010. If all goes according to plan, the Jets will only have to run the ball and let Sanchez manage the game to win handily over the undermanned Jags, with or without Holmes.

The bigger concern for Gang Green has to be the status of Harris and Smith. Without those two healthy and in the lineup, the Jets run defense could struggle to stop Mo Jo-Drew, who rushed for 97 yards and a touchdown in Week 1.

The Jags would love nothing more than to play ball control with Jones-Drew, as they did against Tennessee, and force Sanchez to play catch-up—which becomes more difficult for the third-year QB without a healthy Holmes to throw to downfield.

Either way, the Jets are still far and away the favorites in this one, with more than enough of an edge in talent and momentum to send the 'Cats back to northern Florida with their first loss of the season.

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