Jets highly unlikely to show Wildcat during preseason

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Much of the Jets' preseason has been spent focusing on what the team has been unable to do (protecting the quarterback and scoring touchdowns) as well as something new they plan on doing (running the Wildcat with backup quarterback Tim Tebow).

The demotion of right tackle Wayne Hunter to Austin Howard's backup and the role of jumbo tight end addresses quarterback protection, at least temporarily. The offense's inability to reach the end zone has been due in part to a depleted corps of wide receivers, but Santonio Holmes (ribs, back) and Jeremy Kerley (hamstring) are on the mend. Both might be available for Sunday night's preseason game against the Carolina Panthers.

The Wildcat, however, will remain under wraps until the regular season.

"I don't see us really running the Wildcat in the preseason," Jets coach Rex Ryan said before Thursday's practice.

New offensive coordinator and Wildcat guru Tony Sparano and Ryan have not tipped their hand as to how they plan to use Tebow in the Wildcat, but Tebow said he's not concerned.

"We have a few live reps in practice, but I've run that stuff before," Tebow said. "I've gotten reps in my life at it. We can get good reps in practice. I don't think it's something you have to do in a preseason game."

Holmes has been recovering from a variety of ailments on his left side but is "pretty confident" he can play Sunday. He wore a red no-contact jersey during practice, but Ryan hopes he will be available this week.

Holmes said he's not worried about the offense's preseason struggles and is confident that things will fall into place once the regular season starts.

"The things that we're going to do this season -- why give everybody a clue right now? Leave them all guessing," he said. "Show them on [a regular-season] Sunday when it really counts and we just punch them in the mouth from there."