Santonio Holmes done for season; Jets sign Jason Hill
Santonio Holmes of the Jets is carted off the field during the second half of a game against the San Francisco 49ers. (Sept. 30, 2012) Credit: Getty Images
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- It's official: Santonio Holmes is done for the season. And now, it's gut-check time for the Jets.
The team announced Wednesday morning that Holmes had been placed on injured reserve with a Lisfranc injury in his left foot, a disturbing diagnosis because of the potential for combinations of sprains, dislocations or fractures in the mid-foot.
Rex Ryan said he expects the star receiver to undergo surgery and "be ready to roll next year."
But the Jets must face the rest of the season without him, starting Monday night against the Texans (4-0). "Obviously, that's a big loss for us," Ryan said of Holmes, who was hurt in Sunday's 34-0 loss to the 49ers. "With that comes opportunity for other guys to step up."
Rookie Stephen Hill said he's spoken to Holmes every day since the injury, and that Holmes' message always is the same: "It's time for you all to step up."
Hill said Holmes saw "a big knot" on his foot after suffering the non-contact injury, but Hill didn't know the extent of it until Tuesday. "He's making sure he stays not just in my head, but other people's heads," Hill said.
With Hill's status for Monday -- and tight end Dustin Keller's -- up in the air, the Jets' active roster had only three healthy receivers Tuesday morning: Chaz Schilens, Jeremy Kerley and Clyde Gates. A reinforcement came later that day.
Former Jaguars receiver Jason Hill was in New Orleans working out with the Saints when his agent called to say he was headed to Florham Park. Hill arrived around 9 p.m., via Charlotte.
To some, free agent Plaxico Burress, a Jet last year, seemed like the perfect option, but Ryan said the Jets were looking for guys "maybe a little younger and [with] a little more speed." Jason Hill "has those attributes," Ryan said, shortly after the deal was announced Wednesday.
Hill, 27, had 25 catches for 367 yards and three touchdowns for the Jaguars last year. He was released by Denver this summer. Jets fans may recall his "overhyped" comments about cornerback Darrelle Revis and the Jets before last year's Week 2 game.
"I didn't think anything of it," Hill said. "I don't think [the Jaguars] thought anything of it. But obviously, up here you all did. But it's in the past.''
Hill said he doesn't know what his role will be. "I guess I'll just get into it as we go," he said.
His presence can't make up for losing Holmes a week after the Jets' brightest star, Revis, suffered a season-ending ACL tear. But Ryan said he hasn't lowered expectations for 2012.
"No, not at all, because we're a team," he said. "It's unfortunate with the severity of those injuries. But no, our expectations are where they always are."
