The Jets didn't report any injuries in Sunday night's 27-7 victory over the Bengals, but Rex Ryan sounded a bit uncertain about the status of backup QB Mark Brunell (pulled calf muscle).

Ryan said he's hopeful, but not sure if Brunell will be ready by the Sept. 11 opener against the Cowboys.

"It's hard to say with a calf injury," Ryan said. "I'm not sure how long it will be. I hope he's ready for the first game against Dallas. I'm sure he will be, but ... I'll leave it to the experts."

Rookie QB Greg McElroy, who relieved Mark Sanchez to start the second half, impressed in his second extended outing. He completed six of nine passes for 59 yards, including a 3-yard touchdown pass to Joe McKnight -- a well-executed rollout.

Obviously, Brunell's injury doesn't mean anything as long as Sanchez stays healthy, but it's always a little bit concerning when your No. 2 is 40 years old and has a bad wheel.

OFFENSIVE TALLY: In two games, the Sanchez-led starting offense has played three quarters, producing 20 points -- two touchdowns and a field goal in seven possessions.

NO GROUND & POUND: The Jets' passing game was crisp, but the running game was non-existent in the first half. LaDainian Tomlinson, who started for Shonn Greene (foot), rushed nine times for only 16 yards. Asked what he thought of the rushing attack, Ryan said, "Not much. (The Bengals) did a good job. They've got that big dude with the hair (Domata Peko); he's a pretty good player. We had tough sledding in there, that's for sure."

The Jets finished with 156 yards, with 69 on a late run by Chris Jennings. McKnight (seven for 36 yards) bounced a couple of runs outside, showing nice burst. Rookie Bilal Powell (nine for 22) didn't impress.

SACK MAN: The Jets recorded one sack and it was delivered by the new kid on the block, OLB Aaron Maybin. Yeah, that Maybin, the former No. 1 pick cut last week by the Bills. Maybin, showing his speed off the edge, chased down and stripped the ball from fourth-string QB Dan LeFevour.

"Since I've been in college, that's always been the picture-perfect play I've tried to focus on," said Maybin, who didn't record any sacks in two seasons with the Bills.

Before Jets fans get too giddy, consider that he beat a rookie tackle named Matthew O'Donnell, who hails from that football factory in Canada, Queen's. One scout who saw Maybin's sack remained skeptical, saying he beat an immobile tackle who "has no footspeed."

KICKING BATTLE: It was an uneven game for PK Nick Folk, who made a 50-yard FG but missed from 43 yards. He also booted a kickoff out of bounds. His challenger, Nick Novak, made his only try, a 30-yarder.