Jets: Rex Ryan benches Mark Sanchez

Jets QB Greg McElroy looks for a touchdown call vs. the Cardinals. McElroy replaced Mark Sanchez after the half. (US Presswire)

Jets QB Mark Sanchez was benched in the third quarter of Sunday's game against the Cardinals at MetLife Stadium after going 10 of 21 for 97 yards and throwing three interceptions.

Coach Rex Ryan inserted third-string QB Greg McElroy, who took the team down the field for its first touchdown of the game on a 1-yard roll-out pass to TE Jeff Cumberland.

McElroy was the team's 7th-round pick in 2011 and missed the regular season after surgery for a dislocated thumb. In 2010, McElroy steered Alabama to a BCS championship.

The Jets traded with Denver in the offseason for QB Tim Tebow and, with the team at 4-7 and floundering, many have been clamoring for the Jets to put him in for Sanchez. However, after cracking two ribs against Seattle three weeks ago, Tebow was inactive, elevating McElroy into the backup role.

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