CORTLAND, N.Y. -- Third-year LG Vladimir Ducasse, competing for the starting job with Matt Slauson, injured his left knee and sat out the majority of Wednesday's practice.

The injury doesn't appear serious, based on early indications. Ducasse was hurt in a team drill, when a defender rolled into his leg. He went to the sideline and received immediate medical attention. He remained on the sideline (a good sign) for the rest of practice.

Afterward, Ducasse insisted he was "fine," and that he was able to jog. This could be a make-or-break year for the former second-round pick, a disappointment in his first two seasons. Reminded that a lot of folks have been waiting for him to step up, Ducasse replied: "Well, they can keep waiting."

Uh, I don't think that's what he meant.

ROUGH DAY FOR OFFENSE -- AGAIN: The first- and second-team offenses struggled in most of the team periods. In fact, QB Mark Sanchez completed only seven of 19 passes, including an interception (CB Kyle Wilson). It was Sanchez's first interception of training camp in team drills.

Practice ended with a two-minute drill. It was an 11-play drive that ended with a 51-yard field goal by Nick Folk. The best play was a fourth-down pass to TE Dustin Keller, with Sanchez finding his target while being flushed from the pocket. Sanchez showed his ability to throw accurately on the run.

But, overall, he was only 4-for-10 on the drive. There was one instance of poor clock management, when the Jets burned a timeout after Sanchez spiked the ball to stop the clock.

QB Tim Tebow, working with the backups, didn't get many reps. He completed two of four passes, with an interception (rookie S Antonio Allen). On one play, a completed screen pass, coordinator Tony Sparano chided Tebow for lobbing the ball, not putting enough zip on it.

TEBOW TIME: Once again, Tebow worked on special teams as the personal protector on the punt team. And, once again, the Jets used a fake, with Tebow taking the snap and throwing a jump pass. ESPN cameras caught the entire sequence, so now every team in the league is aware of the play. Don't expect to see that during the regular season.

POUHA'S BOO-BOO: NT Sione Pouha missed most of practice after receiving five or six stitches in his head. He cut his forehead (he called it a "nick") and went to the locker room to get stitched up. Kenrick Ellis got most of the reps at nose tackle.

NO CRO: One day after bragging that he could be the second-best wide receiver on the team, CB Antonio Cromartie didn't get any reps at receiver. His training-camp tally: one rep at wideout.

INJURY UPDATE: A handful of key players didn't practice -- RB Joe McKnight (illness), WR Chaz Schilens (groin), WR Jeremy Kerley (hamstring) and Fui Vakapuna (hamstring). McKnight suffered food poisoning from a nearby restaurant. ... Rookie LB Demario Davis and rookie WR Jordan White, both activated from the PUP list, practiced without pads, per the rules.

AUSTIN POWER: Now that OT Jeff Otah is back in Carolina, the Jets were talking up OT Austin Howard. It was no coincidence that the 333-pound Howard, who dropped 30 pounds before training camp, took a handful of reps at right tackle, Wayne Hunter's spot (for now). Howard also saw time at left tackle. Clearly, the Jets are doing everything they can to push (replace?) Hunter.

THIS AND THAT: The offense conducted a red-zone period for the first time in camp. It didn't go particularly well for the offense, although Sanchez had one nice pass -- a TD strike to rookie WR Stephen Hill. ... TE/FB Josh Baker keeps showing up; he's having a nice camp. ... There was a heavy emphasis on third-down situations. Sanchez was only 2-for-5 in that particular period, including the interception. Wilson made a diving grab on a ball that was deflected by CB Darrelle Revis. It was intended for WR Santonio Holmes. ... PK Nick Folk was 5-for-5 in FGs; Josh Brown was 4-for-5, hitting the upright from 52 yards. ... Nice practice for OLB Garrett McIntyre, who flashed as a pass rusher. ... S Tracy Wilson was waived.