Sputtering Jets lose Holmes for rest of season

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Things just got a lot tougher for the struggling New York Jets.

Wide receiver Santonio Holmes will miss the rest of this season with an injured left foot, leaving the Jets without their top offensive playmaker. The team announced Wednesday that Holmes will require surgery and was placed on season-ending injured reserve.

"Obviously, that's a big loss for us," coach Rex Ryan said. "Santonio's one of the top receivers in the game, and it is a big loss."

Locker won't suit up

NASHVILLE -- Jake Locker's left shoulder is sore enough that the Tennessee Titans don't even want him dressing Sunday when they visit Minnesota, so veteran Matt Hasselbeck will start at quarterback.

Whether Locker misses more than one game depends on how quickly his non-throwing shoulder heals.

Locker dislocated his non-throwing shoulder for the second time in four games when sacked in last week's 38-14 loss at Houston.

Who dat gonna be there?

METAIRIE, La. -- The NFL has granted permission for Saints coach Sean Payton, general manager Mickey Loomis and assistant head coach Joe Vitt to attend New Orleans' home game Sunday night against San Diego, in which Drew Brees can break a tie with Johnny Unitas for the NFL record of consecutive regular-season games with a touchdown pass.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello says Brees, tied with Unitas at 47, asked that Payton, Loomis and Vitt be allowed to attend even as they continue to serve suspensions of various lengths in connection with the NFL's bounty investigation. Aiello says the three suspended members of the organization may watch the game from a private area and may not have contact with the team.

Unitas set the record from 1956 to 1960. Brees tied it Sunday at Green Bay, throwing for three scores.

-- The Associated Press

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