New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez may need knee surgery | NFL

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez might have surgery this offseason to stabilize the patella ligament in his left knee, which was injured during college.

Sanchez, who just completed his rookie season, won't need any procedures on his right knee, which suffered a sprained posterior cruciate ligament earlier this season.

He had both knees examined by team doctors this week, and also had them looked at by Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala.

General manager Mike Tannenbaum said Sanchez would be ready "well before training camp" if he elects to have the procedure, which isn't considered major, but could miss some early offseason workouts.

"It would certainly be much sooner than later because, right now, nothing has been decided," Tannenbaum said Thursday. "So we're going to keep the lines of communication open and make a decision pretty soon here."

Sanchez dislocated his kneecap during the first week of fall practice before his junior season at USC. He has worn a brace on the knee since. Sanchez also banged up his left knee against Carolina on Nov. 29.

"You don't want to have anybody miss any time, especially a young quarterback," Tannenbaum said, "but we'll balance it out with a medical procedure that may give him more stability in there and give him a chance to play without any worry about that."

Sanchez's right knee, injured against Buffalo on Dec. 3 in Toronto, will heal through rehabilitation.

"I think everyone's on the same page," Tannenbaum said. "It's not going to be anything major."

The fifth overall pick last year out of USC, Sanchez finished the regular season throwing for 2,444 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Notes

• NFL commissioner Roger Goodell likes just about everything so far regarding this one-year test of having the Pro Bowl played one week before the Super Bowl. Sometime soon, the league will decide if it wants to keep things that way. "What we're seeing is a lot more attention on the Pro Bowl than we've ever had before," Goodell said. "And that in and of itself is a success."

• Indianapolis Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney missed a second straight practice with a sprained right ankle.

• The Denver Broncos promoted linebackers coach Don Martindale to defensive coordinator. He replaces Mike Nolan, who left the team after the season.

• Chris Terry, a former offensive lineman for Carolina and Kansas City, faces a felony drug charge after a traffic stop in Clarksville, Ind.

• The St. Louis Rams say they are "aware" of a police report that claims running back Steven Jackson assaulted his former girlfriend when she was nine months pregnant. The criminal complaint, filed with the Las Vegas Police Department, claims that Jackson pushed Supriya Harris to the ground and "flung" her against a door. Jackson denied the allegations.