Tests on a broken bone in the right hand of C Kevin Mawae revealed a clean break, his agent said Monday, meaning the Pro Bowl lineman won't need surgery and will likely miss no more than a game or two.
Mawae suffered the injury -- a broken right metacarpal bone -- late in the third quarter of New York's 34-28 win over San Diego on Sunday. Typical healing time is two-to-four weeks, but with the Jets on a bye this Sunday, it's conceivable Mawae won't miss any time at all.
If Mawae is forced out of the lineup, the Jets have a couple of options: They could slide starting OLG Pete Kendall over to center, where he played last year with the Arizona Cardinals, and elevate Brent Smith to Kendall's left guard spot. Or they could leave the offensive line intact and use third-year player Jonathan Goodwin, who filled in for Mawae on Sunday, at center.
MLB Sam Cowart who was also injured on Sunday will most likely miss a few weeks of action. Rookie MLB Jonathan Vilma is expected to take his place in the lineup.