Person familiar with situation says Jets’ Sanchez has right knee examined by Dr. James Andrews

AP source: Jets QB Sanchez has right knee examined

NEW YORK — Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez had his right knee examined by Dr. James Andrews, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press on Thursday.

Sanchez was in Birmingham, Ala., on Wednesday to visit Andrews, but it was not immediately certain if the quarterback will need surgery. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team had not commented publicly on Sanchez’s visit.

Sanchez missed one game after suffering a mild sprain of the posterior cruciate ligament against Buffalo on Dec. 3 in Toronto. He didn’t make the trip to Tampa Bay on Dec. 9 and was replaced by Kellen Clemens. Sanchez returned the following week against Atlanta wearing a brace, and had no apparent signs of injury during the last several weeks of the season.

He helped lead the Jets to the AFC championship game at Indianapolis, and played some of his best football during the playoff run. After throwing 20 interceptions during the regular season, Sanchez had just two in three postseason games and fell a win short of becoming the first rookie quarterback to play in the Super Bowl.

The New York Post first reported his meeting with Andrews on its Web site Wednesday night.

Sanchez was injured when he dived headfirst on an 8-yard run early in the third quarter against the Bills. The play came a few days after coach Rex Ryan brought in Yankees manager Joe Girardi to help teach Sanchez how to improve his sliding technique.

Sanchez also banged up his left knee against Carolina on Nov. 29.

The fifth overall pick last year out of Southern California, Sanchez finished the regular season throwing for 2,444 yards and 12 touchdowns, but had a dismal 63.0 quarterback rating.

Armed with a color-coded system and numbered plays on his wrist to help him, Sanchez’s ball security improved dramatically down the stretch. He finished the playoffs going 41 of 68 for 539 yards with four touchdowns and a 92.7 rating.

Sanchez also joined Baltimore’s Joe Flacco as the only rookie quarterbacks to win two playoff games.