Mark Sanchez reportedly considering season-ending surgery

This could be the end of Mark Sanchez's time with the New York Jets. (Al Pereira/Getty Images)

According to a report from ESPN.com's Chris Mortensen, New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez is considering season-ending surgery to repair a labral tear in his right shoulder. Sanchez suffered the injury in the fourth quarter of the Jets'- 24-21 preseason overtime win over the New York Giants on Aug. 24. Mortensen reports that after consulting with Dr. James Andrews (who confirmed the labral tear), Sanchez "is likely" to have surgery that would probably bring down the curtain on his career with the Jets.

However, several local beat writers are reporting via Twitter than Sanchez is still considering his options. Those options include the surgery, or continuing to rehab his shoulder, or seeking a second opinion.

"If I needed surgery right now, I never would have left Andrews' office," Sanchez told Mortensen via text. "I would've stayed and got the surgery."

Sanchez came into the Giants game with 11 minutes left in the fourth quarter and was sacked on his first play by defensive lineman Marvin Austin. On the second play of his second drive, Sanchez took a hard shot from Austin on a pass to Mohamed Massaquoi and went to the ground. He left the stadium with a wrap on his right shoulder. In the meantime, the Jets have committed to rookie Geno Smith, who completed 24 of 38 passes for 256 yards, one touchdown, and one interception in the Jets' 18-17 season-opening win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Jets head coach Rex Ryan took a great deal of heat for putting Sanchez in the game, and there seemed little sense in asking a former first-round pick due $8.25 million in the 2013 season to perform mop-up duty.

If Sanchez lands on injured reserve, his entire salary would still count on the salary cap. And according to salary cap expert Brian McIntyre, that would leave the Jets with $14.896 million in IR dollars on their 2013 cap -- the most in the NFL, and about 12 percent of their entire 2013 salary structure. He is due a $2 million non-guaranteed roster bonus and a $9 million base salary in March, 2014.