Holmes: 'Bodywise,' I'm tight and sore

CORTLAND – Santonio Holmes offered little insight about his injury and the timetable for his return.

Head coach Rex Ryan alluded to Holmes having a soft-tissue injury on Wednesday, but the Jets No. 1 wideout said his issue wasn’t a groin or a hamstring.

“Just tightness and soreness,” he said after today’s. “A lot of running. Nothing specific, just body-wise. ...It takes a few days to get adjusted to being back in camp and wearing football pads and getting back in football shape.”

Holmes, who did not participate at all in practice, said he did an extended warm ups with head strength and conditioning coach Bill Hughan. He said he was told by the training staff to sit out because the focus of practice was short-yardage and goal-line.

“There was nothing more for me to do on a day like today,” Holmes said.

Ryan, as well as some players, have said the faster pace of practice – implemented by offensive coordinator Tony Sparano – may have contributed to the rash of injuries among the wide receiving corps. Ryan considered dialing back practice, but reconsidered because it would slow the progress of the rest of the team.

Holmes, however, enjoys the speed of practice.

“I think the tempo is wonderful,” said the wideout, who has turned to more acupuncture and massage therapies now that he’s in his seventh year. “It gives us an insight to how the game’s going to be played from the start. He didn’t want us to come in and work, getting into shape. That’s what we had the offseason for and he wants us full-go, 100 miles per hour every day. And that’s what we have to prove for him.”

Despite a plethora of injuries on offense, Holmes said he’s confident in the Jets’ passing and ground and pound games. But he’d still feel more comfortable if he and Mark Sanchez could have more time together on the field.

The chemistry they built during Jets West, he said, can only take them so far.

“We want to be on the field with each other at every moment we can,” he said.