Jets' Sanchez will wear brace on knee from now on

Mark Sanchez is bracing himself for the rest of his career.

The New York Jets quarterback will wear a protective brace on his surgically repaired left knee ''probably forever'' to guard against future injuries after a scare in the preseason game against Carolina last Saturday.

''I really want to wear it,'' Sanchez said sarcastically Tuesday. ''No, we've been joking back and forth. I think I kind of lucked out the other night.''

During the Jets' 9-3 win at Carolina, a Panthers players almost rolled into the franchise quarterback's knee.

''I had him put the brace on after I saw that thing,'' coach Rex Ryan said. ''It was close. He couldn't step up and the guy's helmet was here. I was like, 'That's enough.' That's why he's putting it on.''

Sanchez had the patella-stabilizing ligament in his left knee repaired in February and had been wearing a sleeve over it during camp. He has worn a brace in most games since dislocating his knee cap before his junior season at Southern California.

''It's not even worth having other problems,'' Sanchez said. ''My knee feels great It's just a precautionary thing.''

He first sported the bulky brace at practice Monday, and will now wear it during all future games and practices.

''It's just a matter of getting used to it again,'' the second-year quarterback said. ''I wore it growing up, I've worn it in school (and) all last year. It's really not that bad. It's really not that bad. It's more of a mental thing. I just don't like wearing it.''

He even consulted with veteran backup quarterback Mark Brunell, who has worn a knee brace throughout his career.

''I was hoping he'd say, 'Nah, you don't need it,''' Sanchez said. ''And I could then say, 'Hey, Brunell has played forever and he never had a problem.' But he wore it for 14 years, so it's not going to work.''