Sanchez to start for head-injured Mcelroy

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Rex Ryan stepped to the podium and opened his news conference with a warning.

“You’re not going to believe this one,” the New York Jets coach declared without no hint of a smile.

In what has been a bizarre season, the Jets’ wacky quarterback situation took yet another twist. Greg McElroy has a concussion — which he didn’t reveal until Thursday — and will be replaced by Mark Sanchez as the starting quarterback in the season finale at Buffalo on Sunday.

“We’ve come to find out that Greg wasn’t exactly truthful with our training staff after the game,” said Ryan. “He never disclosed that he had symptoms after the game to our trainers. Right now, he’s being evaluated for a concussion.”

McElroy, preparing to make his second NFL start in place of the benched Sanchez, was lifting weights Thursday morning and started experiencing headaches, Ryan said. McElroy went to the team’s training staff and then revealed he was suffering concussion-like symptoms after being sacked 11 times in the Jets’ 27-17 loss to San Diego last Sunday.

McElroy and head trainer John Mellody then went to Ryan to tell the coach the news. Offensive coordinator Tony Sparano said he was “pretty silent” when he found out a few minutes after Ryan.

“It’s another bump in the road here,” Sparano said, “and it’s something we’ve become a little accustomed to.”

Ryan was not certain when McElroy suffered the concussion but said there was no way he would play McElroy against the Bills and the third-stringer will “definitely be out.” McElroy had been listed on the injury report Wednesday with a mild abdominal strain but was a full participant in practice and was expected to play without any issues.

“I admire his courage and everything else, but you have to be truthful and I think that’s the lesson learned here with the medical staff,” said Ryan, who spoke to the entire team about concussions after practice. “The fact he really wanted to play, I understand the competitive side of Greg and all that, but the most important thing is the health of the players.

“I feel fortunate that something like this showed up without him going out there and putting himself in harm’s way.”