Jets' Sanchez says he'd be able to play right now

Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez says his surgically repaired left knee has improved so much that he'd be able to play in a game now if he needed to.

Sanchez had the patella-stabilizing ligament in the knee repaired in February, and participated in 11-on-11 team drills for the first time this week since the surgery. He said Thursday that the knee feels ``great'' and he looked mobile and unimpeded at practice.

Doctors told Sanchez that his rehabilitation progressed ahead of schedule. He said he should be a full participant during the team's minicamp, which starts Monday.

Until this week, he had been limited to only individual and passing drills since workouts began several weeks ago.