New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez had surgery to repair the patella ligament in his left knee Wednesday and said on his Twitter page that the procedure went "exceptionally well."
Sanchez is expected to completely recover in three to four months, a source with knowledge of the situation told NFL Network's Jason La Canfora. That means Sanchez might miss most of the Jets' offseason program, but he should be OK well before training camp opens in July.
Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum said via e-mail Wednesday that it's still too soon to target a return date for Sanchez, but the team will have a better idea in a month. Tannenbaum did say that Sanchez "should be ready before camp."
Sanchez, who led the Jets to the AFC Championship Game as a rookie, can attend all offseason meetings and off-the-field prep while he recovers. He's aiming to return in mid-May.
Sanchez dislocated the kneecap during fall practice before his junior season at USC. He has worn a brace on the knee since, but he aggravated the injury during a Nov. 29 game against the Carolina Panthers.
Jets physician Dr. Ken Montgomery and orthopedist Dr. Elliott Hershman performed the operation Wednesday at Morristown (N.J.) Memorial Hospital, located a few miles from the team's facility in Florham Park. The surgery was expected to help prevent future tweaks to Sanchez's kneecap area.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
