CORTLAND — Several minutes after Jets practice ended yesterday, injured wide receiver Santonio Holmes jogged across a soccer field carrying a football toward a group of waiting reporters.
Apparently, it was the most running he has done in nearly a year.
When Holmes reached the reporters, he told them he still has not begun to run and remains unsure when he will be able to play this season.
"Right now, I can't run," Holmes said. "I continue to take it day by day and do the necessary things to get better."
It has been nearly 11 months since Holmes suffered a Lisfranc injury in his left foot against the 49ers in Week 4 last year. He has had two surgeries on the foot since and has spent training camp watching practice, riding a stationary bike and working with the trainers.
AP
VICIOUS CYCLE: Santonio Holmes, who has been out 11 months following foot surgery, has been mostly stuck on the sidelines riding a stationary bike during training camp in Cortland. He has started a catching drill, but still can't run.
There have been various accounts of when Holmes will be back and no one around the Jets seems to have any idea when to expect the mercurial receiver to be on the field. The Post reported Holmes has told friends he expects to miss the first four games of the season.
Yesterday's update did not make it sound as if he will be back sooner than that. Asked about the possibility of playing in the season opener against the Buccaneers in four weeks, Holmes did not sound optimistic.
"I can't really count that far ahead right now," Holmes said. "I have to go with the steps in front of me, which is getting better today, look forward to tomorrow working better than [today]."
ESPN reported over the weekend there are people close to the organization who think Holmes may be milking his injury to avoid participating in training camp and he will be ready when the regular season arrives.
"No comment," Holmes said about that report.
Coach Rex Ryan defended Holmes, saying he has worked hard in his rehab.
"I talk to Holmes every day," Ryan said. "When we have our walkthrough practices, he looks pretty good at corner. I'm like, 'I'd like to see you at wideout.' He's really good about it. The trainers keep me updated. We're encouraged. Like I said, he is doing a phenomenal job in his rehab. He's in [the trainer's room] more than anybody. It's not close."
Holmes, 29, was asked how much practice he will need before he plays a game and said he could not answer that question.
"It's still week-to-week right now," Holmes said. "I say day-to-day, but the trainers say week-to-week."
This week, Holmes has begun catching footballs from a Juggs machine and running a few steps after that while wearing a helmet. He said the drill is a sign of progress, but added he'll need to be able to really start running before he feels as if he has reached the next step of his rehab.
"I really didn't know what to look forward to from the beginning," Holmes said, "so I've had to deal with it as the days come and go through the necessary treatments and therapy and rehab and just continue looking forward to the day when it comes."
The Jets could certainly use Holmes. At the moment, they have second-year receiver Stephen Hill, Jeremy Kerley and Clyde Gates as their starting receivers.
"We're trying to prepare whoever is available to us at practice," Ryan said. "They're getting the reps right now. Will Tone be out there? Will he not be out there opening day? I think it's too early to tell. You certainly hope he's available, because he's a difference maker when he's on the field."
brian.costello@nypost.com
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