Ryan: Mark Sanchez's shoulder sore

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Mark Sanchez went into Pittsburgh with a bruised ego. He came out with a sore shoulder.

The New York Jets' quarterback landed on his throwing shoulder on a first-quarter scramble in Sunday's 22-17 victory over the Steelers, and he went for an MRI exam Monday. The results were negative, according to head coach Rex Ryan, who downplayed the injury and said Sanchez will start Sunday at the Chicago Bears.

"That's precautionary," Ryan said of the MRI. "Anytime it's your quarterback, you're going to make sure he's OK ... He'll be ready to play on Sunday."

The team didn't specify the exact nature of the injury, saying only that it's "sore." It happened on the Jets' second possession, when Sanchez escaped the pocket on third-and-18 and was sacked at the line of scrimmage by James Farrior.

Sanchez landed hard on his right shoulder, receiving a shot in the back from James Harrison just as he hit the ground. It didn't seem to cause any discomfort. In fact, Sanchez did a two-handed push-up as he got off the ground and to his feet. He played the entire game.

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Ryan, who claimed he didn't know about the shoulder issue until after the game, said Sanchez's arm landed in an "awkward position." It was the only time he was sacked, yet he was "beat up pretty good," according to Ryan.

Sanchez might be limited in practice this week as the Jets (10-4), who snapped a two-game losing streak, try to clinch a playoff berth for the second straight season under Ryan.

They can ill afford an injury to Sanchez, who emerged from a three-game slump with a turnover-free performance. He completed 19 of 29 passes for 170 yards and, for the first time in nine games, he didn't throw an interception. He also scored on a 7-yard run in the third quarter on a naked bootleg.

After the game, Sanchez was noticeably subdued, but never mentioned the injury. He wasn't available to reporters on Monday. The Jets' No. 2 quarterback is Mark Brunell, 40, who has attempted only 31 passes over the last four years. He's 1-for-1 this season.

The dramatic victory put the finishing touch on an emotional week for Sanchez, who faced heavy criticism and was called out last week by Ryan. After a ragged performance in a loss to the Miami Dolphins, the coach admitted he thought about pulling his quarterback in the third quarter.

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If that didn't get the message across, Ryan made Sanchez sit out a couple of practice reps last week, he revealed Monday. Ordinarily, Sanchez takes all the first-team reps. That could be why he was terse last week with reporters.

"Really, [I did it] just to tick him off more than anything else," said Ryan, joking that he and Sanchez aren't talking.

But, seriously, Ryan admitted he was trying to let his young quarterback know that no one has a free pass.

"You send a message that, 'You know what? You're my guy, everybody knows you're my guy, but if it'll make him accountable, I'll make everybody accountable," Ryan said. "If, for whatever reason, you're not getting the job done, nobody's above it."

Sanchez struggled for three games, throwing five interceptions and completing less than 50 percent of his passes. The offense went 11 quarters without a touchdown until his naked bootleg, which made it 17-17 in the third quarter.

Most of the criticism during the two-game losing streak fell on Sanchez and offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer. Actually, it could've been worse, but the actions of suspended strength and conditioning coach Sal Alosi deflected some of the attention away from Sanchez, who received pep talks from veteran teammates.

"A lot of times, with a young quarterback, if he doesn't play well, he feels like he let all of us down," fullback Tony Richardson said. "The biggest thing I tell him is, we support you, we're behind you 100 percent. That was my message to him this week: Trust us, we trust you and we're going to get this done."

Rich Cimini covers the Jets for ESPNNewYork.com. Follow him on Twitter.

Jets' Ryan determined to avoid kicking to Hester

If Jets coach Rex Ryan has his way, Bears kickoff and punt returner Devin Hester won't be adding to his NFL record Sunday when New York faces the Bears at Soldier Field.

Ryan says the Jets will kick the ball away from Hester, who had a 64-yard punt return for a touchdown Monday night in Minneapolis, the 14th return touchdown of his career. That moved him ahead of Brian Mitchell for the NFL's all-time top spot.

"I think it's pretty safe to say we're planning on not kicking to him," Ryan said Wednesday in a teleconference with Chicago media. "I think you can write that down as everybody else I'm sure doesn't want to kick to him.

"I don't think you can deal with him. As a returner, it's ridiculous. He's got to go down as the best punt returner in the history of the game."

Hester still could get his chances. It's not easy to kick the ball out of bounds every time, especially in an outdoor stadium where wind and footing can be issues.

The Vikings were kicking the ball out of bounds Monday night. It just so happened that Chris Kluwe's punt didn't make it all of the way to the boundary and Hester was able to field it just outside the numbers. It's also difficult for punters to angle for the sideline when they are pinned deep in their own territory. So, yes, Hester will get his chances from time to time even when the plan is to kick away from him.

How is it he keeps getting the ball if everyone wants to kick away from him?

"I have no idea," Ryan said. "I hope the ball when we kick doesn't go to him."

Rex Ryan won't address video report

The New York Jets are on the verge of making the playoffs, but the focus once again is off the field as coach Rex Ryan is being asked whether his wife, Michelle, posted foot-fetish videos on the Internet.

In a conference call with Chicago reporters leading up to Sunday's big game with the Bears, Ryan didn't deny a Deadspin.com report that shows a number of videos of a woman who looks very much like his wife showing off her feet while a cameraman -- who sounds like Ryan -- talks to the woman.

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NFL Michelle Ryan, wife of Jets coach Rex Ryan, models Jets apparel for the NFL in InStyle Magazine.

"I know you need to ask, it's a personal matter," Ryan told reporters when asked if the situation could snowball into a distraction.

He said it was between him and his wife and he would not elaborate beyond that.

The Jets already had issued a statement: "This is a personal matter and Rex will have no comment."

The story made the front page of the New York Daily News. Ryan is scheduled to meet with the New York media Wednesday afternoon.

This is just the latest controversy for the Jets. They recently suspended strength and conditioning coach Sal Alosi indefinitely after he tripped a Dolphins player during a punt return. The NFL is investigating.

Earlier this season, the league also investigated the team after it was reported that female reporter Ines Sainz was harassed at Jets practice.

Ryan himself came under fire for using profanity repeatedly during HBO's "Hard Knocks" show on the team.

And wide receiver Braylon Edwards has been dealing with a drunken-driving charge that could affect another case stemming from an altercation in Ohio.

The Jets are 10-4 and can clinch a playoff berth with a win over the Bears in Chicago.