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A weekly examination of the Jets' ESPN.com Power Ranking:

Preseason: 32 | Last Week: 18 | ESPN.com Power Ranking since 2002

The Jets dropped four spots. When you go on the road and get run out of the building by a team forced to play its backup quarterback for the last 26 minutes, what do you expect? The Jets' 38-13 loss to the Tennessee Titans was a back-to-reality check. Actually, the Jets are lucky they didn't fall into the mid-20s.

Not surprisingly, the Jets are second lowest among the 2-2 teams, ahead of only the Buffalo Bills (No. 23), whom they defeated in Week 3. Next up for the Jets are the Atlanta Falcons, still living off last season's success -- at least in the eyes of our distinguished panel of voters. The Falcons are 1-3, yet there they are at No. 16, the second-highest sub-.500 team in the rankings.

The New York Jets remain haunted by Aug. 24, the day Rex Ryan decided to insert Mark Sanchez into the fourth quarter of a preseason game. You know how it turned out.

They lost their only experienced quarterback that night, the presumptive starter, forcing them to put rookie Geno Smith on the accelerated program. Clearly, he wasn't ready -- and still isn't, evidenced by his meltdown in the Music City. It would've been better for him, and the team, to have him watch a few games from the sideline, but that idea got blown up the second Marvin Austin crashed into Sanchez's right shoulder.

Now the Jets are trapped on the rookie rollercoaster, with no viable alternatives. Oh, sure, Ryan might get sick of Smith's turnovers at some point and turn to Matt Simms or even Brady Quinn, but he'll go back to Smith because that's how GM John Idzik wants it. It'll always come back to Smith, just like it'll always come back to Aug. 24.

Which raises the question: Would the Jets be 2-2 with Sanchez at quarterback? Maybe 3-1? Or 1-3? I say 3-1, because I think they would've pulled out the New England game with a veteran presence behind center.

What say you?

ICYMI: Rex Ryan is getting fed up with the turnovers, but he's sticking with Smith "at this point right now." Why not throw in another disclaimer? ... Reciever Stephen Hill has a concussion and, from what I'm hearing, WR Santonio Holmes will miss time with a pulled hamstring. Next men, up. ... Mike Goodson -- remember him? -- said "words can't even express how excited I am" to get back to football. His four-game suspension is over. ... Tennessee Titans coach Mike Munchak called out Muhammad Wilkerson and Quinton Coples for their hits on QB Jake Locker.

For Mark Sanchez, it's time for the Hail Mary.

Even though season-ending surgery appears likely, the New York Jets' former starting quarterback still hasn't made a final decision and will continue his rehab program for another couple of weeks with the hope of avoiding surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder, sources said Monday night.

Sanchez was examined Monday by Dr. James Andrews in Gulf Breeze, Fla., where he underwent a battery of tests, sources said. This was a previously scheduled check-up. Sanchez is said to be progressing nicely in his rehab, but he's battling long odds. In the end, he probably will need to surgery to repair the damage.

However, Sanchez wants to at least try to throw a football before making that decision. He has been performing many shoulder exercises, but he has yet to throw a football since his Aug. 24 injury, sources said.

Sanchez is on the short-term injured reserve list and is eligible to return in Week 11. As much as he'd like to return to help the team, he also has to look out for his own future. Even though he's signed through 2016, he has received no assurances from the Jets that he'll be back. In all likelihood, he'll be released next March. Staring at the prospect of four to six months of post-surgical rehab, it makes sense to get it done soon so he can be healthy by free agency.

Curiously, the Jets declined to comment Monday on an NFL Network report that said Sanchez already had decided to have season-ending surgery. ESPN Senior NFL Analyst Chris Mortensen later reported that Sanchez was continuing rehab and hadn't made definitive plans.

Rex Ryan called it a clean hit. His counterpart, Mike Munchak, didn't think there was anything clean about it.

The Tennessee Titans' coach lost his quarterback, Jake Locker, with a hip injury Sunday when he was slammed by New York Jets defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson and linebacker Quinton Coples on the same play. He's expected to miss four to eight weeks, according to ESPN Insider Adam Schefter.

"The first one, (Wilkerson) dropped his helmet into him and unloaded on him," Munchak told reporters Monday in Nashville. "You're supposed to pull back on him when you're late. He didn't. The second one was totally unnecessary."

It'll be up to the league office to decide if fines are warranted. Wilkerson said after the game that the referee told him on the field that his was a legal hit. Ryan backed that up Monday, saying Wilkerson did not do anything illegal. He was not asked about Coples' role in the play and Coples was not available to comment.

ESPN.com Titans team reporter Paul Kuharsky provides a detailed description of the play, opining that Wilkerson's hit was legal but that Coples crossed the line. No argument here on that assessment.

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- After the 38-13 loss to the Tennessee Titans, rookie quarterback Geno Smith apologized to the New York Jets defense.

“I felt I owed the defense an apology,” Smith said. “They worked their butts off to be one of the best in the league and they pride themselves on not giving up points but whenever you turn the ball over and they lead to scores -- And they bailed us out time and time again so far – but whenever you turn it over that many times it’s hard or those guys to go out there and do their jobs when it’s a short field. Just wanted to talk to those guys and let them know I was aware of my mistakes and I wanted to clean them up and I will clean them up.”

Asked what his motivation was in making the apology, Smith implied it was about the qualities that make a strong leader.

“It’s just taking ownership to your mistakes and manning up,” Smith said. “I think guys respect that more than anything.”

Brady Quinn has been inactive for the first few games of the season, but the Jets have not put in backup Matt Simms during the games in which Smith has struggled. Jets coach Rex Ryan said he is sticking with Smith for now, and the veteran Quinn can empathize with Smith’s situation.

“I think he’s going through what a rookie goes through,” Quinn said. “You’ve got some things you do great and some things you don’t do as well as you’d like but when it comes down to it it’s a team game so especially at the quarterback position there are a lot of things that can affect your job.”

Quinn said any questions about whether he could be activated were better directed to Ryan and general manager John Idzik, but he said he is familiar with the playbook.

For now though, Smith’s position is safe, though he doesn’t feel that way.

“I mean in this league, if you don’t get it done, there’s a guy — they’ll find a guy,” Smith said. “I’m not particularly worried about what anyone else is doing other than being myself and taking care of my job. I know if I take care of the ball, if I put us in good situations, we’ll have a good chance. That’s all I really focus on.”

And he doesn’t have to apologize for doing that.

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Running back Mike Goodson stepped onto a practice field for the first time in months as the active member of an NFL team. His four-game suspension for violating the league’s substance abuse policy has ended, and he will be able to play on Monday night when the New York Jets head to Atlanta.

“Words can’t even express how excited I am,” Goodson said. “Just to be able to be out there, we just had a walk-through to be back out there with my teammates, even just watching them go through a walk-through, being able to be out there is cool.”

Goodson, who was acquired in the offseason, was arrested in New Jersey soon after becoming a Jet. He was found stopped on the highway in a car that contained a gun and marijuana.

Goodson was absent through training camp for what the Jets would only describe as a personal matter. Goodson and Chris Ivory, who missed last Sunday’s loss in Tennessee with an injured hamstring, were big-ticket acquisitions, and Goodson hopes he can provide something for the Jets’ offense.

“Just a spark, hopefully a spark,” the six-foot, 210-pound Goodson said. “Wherever they choose to place me.”

In the meantime, Jets running back Bilal Powell is averaging 73 yards a game, which ties him with Arian Foster for second place in the AFC behind New England’s Shane Vereen.

“I just come in and work hard every day and try to let my abilities on the field speak for itself,” Powell said. “It’s good that the coaches notice my hard wok during the offseason and training camp, and give me the opportunities to get the carries.”

The fact is, the Jets' running game is the most reliable part of the offense, and Powell has been a steady and durable presence as the two shiny new running backs have been on the shelf.

With a rookie quarterback in Geno Smith who has eight interceptions in the first four games, some pundits have suggested the Jets would be better off letting the run game absorb more of the offensive pressure.

Having Goodson as a second healthy back might be a way to reduce the wear and tear on Powell.

“We look forward to seeing what he can do,” Powell said.

Goodson said he has been working out regularly at the facility and has spent the past four games focused on football and the playbook. He said he expects to be ready Monday, although he isn’t sure what the coaching staff has planned for him.

“I feel good,” Goodson said. “I’m healthy strong, fast, and ready to play.”

A look at the key drive in the New York Jets' 38-13 loss to the Tennessee Titans:

The situation: The Titans took over at the Jets' 46-yard line with 1:28 remaining in the first half, following Geno Smith's second interception. Despite a poor half, the Jets were still in the game, trailing 17-6.

The drive: The Titans used all but two seconds of the clock, taking a commanding 24-6 lead on Jake Locker's 16-yard touchdown pass to rookie wide receiver Justin Hunter. The drive took seven plays, 46 yards. The Jets knew Locker would try a jump-ball pass to Hunter in the end zone, but they still couldn't defend it. Cornerback Darrin Walls was burned on the play.

The impact: This was a crushing score for a couple of reasons. Moments earlier, the Jets forced a three-and-out and used two timeouts, setting themselves up for a potential hurry-up drive at the end of the half. They got the ball in good field position, at their 41, but Smith forced a ball to Santonio Holmes and was intercepted. Just like that, the defense was back on the field. Instead of cutting into an 11-point deficit before halftime, the Jets went to the locker room down by 18 points. It changed the complexion of the game.

Tough season for the New York Jets' wide receivers.

Stephen Hill, who left the game Sunday after suffering a head injury on the second play, was diagnosed with a concussion, Rex Ryan announced Monday. The second-year receiver was evaluated again as part of the league's protocol on concussions. It means he probably won't play next Monday night when they face the Atlanta Falcons (1-3) on the road.

Fellow receiver Jeremy Kerley suffered a concussion in the opener and missed the next game.

Hill was drilled by Titans safety Michael Griffin on the second play of the game, an underthrown ball that was intercepted by cornerback Alterraun Verner. Surprisingly, there was no flag thrown on the play. Hill walked slowly off the field and was taken to the locker room for testing.

Ryan didn't comment on the legality of the hit, saying only that there was no penalty.

The Jets could be without their starting receivers in Atlanta, as Santonio Holmes pulled a hamstring in the fourth quarter. He, too, didn't return. Ryan provided no update on Holmes, who missed the preseason as he recovered from last season's foot surgery.

Hill is the second-leading receiver on the team, with 13 catches for 233 yards and one touchdown. He's only 19 yards shy of his rookie total. Holmes has 10 receptions for 243 yards and a touchdown.

If they can't play, the likely starters would be Kerley and Ben Obomanu or Clyde Gates, with rookie Ryan Spadola also available in reserve. They could try to sign veteran free agent David Nelson, whom they worked out last week.

There will be one returning player on offense -- RB Mike Goodson, who became eligible Monday to rejoin the team for practice. His four-game suspension for violating the league's substance-abuse policy is over.

Four hot issues that emerged from the New York Jets' 38-13 loss to the Tennessee Titans:

Who are these guys? The Jets finished the first quarter of the season at 2-2, demonstrating many of the qualities we expected from this group -- a defense-minded team with a mistake-prone rookie at quarterback. For the most part, they’ve been terrific on defense, especially at the line of scrimmage. Other times, such as Sunday in Nashville, they’ve suffered from shaky coverage on the back end. Offensively, they’ve been what we expected for 12 out of 16 quarters -- a struggling unit. They were prolific against the Buffalo Bills, but was that a mirage? Sure looks like it. The lack of discipline (44 penalties) is uncharacteristic and alarming.

Help the kid: Smith will remain the starter for the time being, so it’s up to offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg to figure out a way to help him. On Sunday, he should’ve leaned more on the running game instead airing it out. Bilal Powell averaged 5.7 yards per carry in the first half, gashing the Titans on some first-down runs, but he carried it only three times in the third quarter, when it still was a game. Look, I’m not going to rip Mornhinweg for being aggressive -- a week ago, he was hailed for his attacking mentality -- but he should dial it back a little when Smith slips into one of his funks. He already has eight interceptions, a season’s worth for some quarterbacks. It makes sense to feature the run against the Atlanta Falcons, considering wide receivers Santonio Holmes (hamstring) and Stephen Hill (concussion) are banged up and running back Mike Goodson is returning from a four-game suspension.

Cornerback issues: For three-plus years, Rex Ryan enjoyed the benefit of having two excellent cornerbacks, Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie. He never had to worry about bad matchups on the outside. Now that Revis is gone, Ryan is experiencing what most coaches go through. Darrin Walls became the third player to start at right corner, following Dee Milliner and Kyle Wilson. The once-formidable secondary doesn’t scare anyone anymore. The run-oriented Titans compiled a 129.8 passer rating, beating Cromartie twice for touchdowns and Walls once. I’m not second-guessing the Revis trade, but you can certainly criticize the Jets’ post-Revis plan, as Milliner was struggling before he got hurt.

Self-inflicted wounds: The numbers are damning -- 12 giveaways and 44 penalties. Let’s simplify: That’s 56 bad things in four games. If you throw in the 14 sacks allowed, it’s 70 bad things. It’s hard to win football games at that rate. That they have only two takeaways, meaning a minus-10 turnover margin, compounds the issue. It has to get better or else the Jets will be out of the race by Halloween, especially with a tough October schedule. Ryan’s team is leaking oil in a lot of places, and it’s too late for a full-service oil change.

A breakdown of the New York Jets’ snap counts from Sunday’s 38-13 loss to the Tennessee Titans:

OFFENSE (Based on 65 snaps)

Quarterback – Geno Smith 65.

Running Back – Bilal Powell 49, Tommy Bohanon 26, Alex Green 6.

Wide Receiver – Jeremy Kerley 57, Santonio Holmes 49, Ben Obomanu 40, Ryan Spadola 12, Clyde Gates 11, Stephen Hill 2.

Tight End – Kellen Winslow 47, Jeff Cumberland 26.

Offensive Line – D'Brickashaw Ferguson 65, Vladimir Ducasse 65, Nick Mangold 65, Willie Colon 65, Austin Howard 65.

Offensive analysis: Obviously, the receiver numbers got thrown out of whack when Hill went down on the second play with a possible concussion. Interestingly, Obomanu, not Gates, filled the void, although it’s possible Gates may have been slowed by an injury. Obomanu played only one offensive snap before Sunday. … As expected, it was the Powell show in the backfield, with Chris Ivory (hamstring) inactive for the game. … This was the largest disparity yet in playing time between Winslow and Cumberland.

DEFENSE (Based on 67 snaps)

Line – Muhammad Wilkerson 66, Sheldon Richardson 55, Damon Harrison 37, Kenrick Ellis 12, Leger Douzable 7.

Linebacker – David Harris 67, DeMario Davis 65, Calvin Pace 48, Quinton Coples 48, Garrett McIntyre 28, Antwan Barnes 23.

Secondary – Dawan Landry 67, Antonio Cromartie 67, Darrin Walls 60, Antonio Allen 41, Kyle Wilson 26, Jaiquawn Jarrett 21, Ellis Lankster 2.

Defensive analysis: We know where Wilson stands in the eyes of the coaches. One week after his four-penalty meltdown, he was replaced in favor of a former undrafted free agent -- Walls. Wilson ended up playing in nickel, only 39 percent of the snaps. … The Jets didn’t use their nickel package as often as some might have expected, opting to stay in their base at times against three receivers.

The NFL is reviewing the play in which Tennessee Titans quarterback Jake Locker was injured, to see if New York Jets DE Muhammad Wilkerson and LB Quinton Coples should be fined, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Locker was injured with 11:19 left in the third quarter of a 38-13 win against the Jets on Sunday. Locker had just thrown an incomplete pass to Nate Washington when he was hit by Wilkerson, and Coples followed up by hitting Locker as he fell. Locker ended up on his back clutching his right hip.

Neither Coples nor Wilkerson received a penalty on the play, but Schefter reports the NFL believes Wilkerson led with his helmet to Locker’s chest, and Coples hit Locker after the ball was gone.

Locker was immediately taken to a local hospital with a hip injury and spent the night there.