Rex Ryan: Tim Tebow could play RB this week

Forgive us if we're constantly making jokes about what Tim Tebow can and cannot do on the football field.

Obviously, he can play quarterback (or, as his critics would rebut, he plays “quarterback”), and he's clearly an all-star punt protector. He also can fake a punt with the best of them. Of course, that leads us to joke that the Jets should have replaced the injured Darrelle Revis with Tebow at cornerback and that the departed Wayne Hunter's struggles at tackle could have been alleviated by a dose of Tebow Time.

And now that backup running backs Bilal Powell (shoulder) and Joe McKnight (ankle) are banged up, we can officially joke that Tebow can suit up as the No. 2 to Shonn Greene's No. 1.

Hahahaha, right?

Wait. That isn't a joke?

Not according to Rex Ryan. Neither Powell nor McKnight will practice Thursday, and neither is likely to play Sunday -- possibly, maybe, perhaps opening the door for Tebow at running back.

Wait, Rex, are you being serious?

With Jets hurting at RB, could NYJ plug Tim Tebow in at RB vs Pats? Rex: "The answer is yes." #nyj

— Manish Mehta(@MMehtaNYDN) October 18, 2012

So … wow.

But, hey, maybe it makes sense. As Ryan points out, Tebow isn't much of a speedster but he does have power. Because of his size, he wouldn't be easy to bring down, and he's elusive enough to make life difficult for linebackers.

Sounds like a joke, but maybe the Jets are onto something. They haven't effectively used Tebow in the wildcat, but perhaps backing up Greene might work out for a team always on the lookout for offense. Especially the ground-and-pound variety.

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