Santonio Holmes, still rehabbing his surgically repaired foot, will be on a limited program throughout the spring and summer, meaning he could miss part of training camp. The objective, according to Rex Ryan, is to make sure the veteran wide receiver is ready for the season opener.

"The main thing is, I just hope he's ready for opening day," Ryan told reporters Tuesday at the league meetings in Phoenix. "That's going to be the goal. ... I'll lean on [trainer] John Mellody and have all the confidence in the world that he'll get him right."

Ryan said its "certainly a possibility" that Holmes will be limited in training camp. It sounds like they will use the LaRon Landry Plan. Landry, coming off an injury-plagued season with the Redskins, was monitored closely in camp and placed on a scaled-back practice regimen. It worked; he didn't miss any regular-season games.

Holmes underwent surgery last October after suffering a LisFranc foot injury. He recently had the surgical screws removed. The Jets need a healthy Holmes because he's their best playmaker on offense. He recently took a $3.5 million pay cut.

Other highlights from Ryan's meeting with reporters:

QUARTERBACK COMPETITION: He said Mark Sanchez will be the starter in the sense that he'll take the first snap in minicamp. "Somebody has to take it," said Ryan, emphasizing it will be an open competition. For more on the quarterback situation, check out Dan Graziano's story from Phoenix.

Naturally, Ryan was asked about Tim Tebow. He gave the company line, saying Tebow is on the roster and will compete. Don't jump to conclusions; the Jets have no plans to keep him for the 2013 season.

ANOTHER QB? Ryan didn't dismiss the possibility of pursuiting former Cards QB Kevin Kolb, saying, "If we think that's something that will help competition, I'm sure that's something we'll look at."

JUST DUCKY: Ryan said he's not bothered by the perception that he's a lame-duck coach.

"I'm not afraid of any situation that I've ever been put in," he said. "I really don't feel different this year than I do any year. I've approached this like it's a brand-new beginning, which I believe it is. And so that's how I approached it. I'm excited about coaching this team. I realize there are going to be quite a few changes. We're going to lose quite a few football players."

They already have -- five starters in free agency. Despite the mass exodus, Ryan insisted, "I don't see things as rebuilding."

MEA CULPA: Ryan has mentioned this before, so it's not news, but it's always worth noting when he discusses The Guarantee. "Guaranteeing that Super Bowl is always going to haunt me," he said. "If I could ever have a do-over, that would be it."

YOUTH MOVEMENT: Ryan spent some time talking up his young players, particularly DT Quinton Coples and LB Demario Davis. Ryan, known for gushing about his players, predicted that Coples will be "a beast" in his second season. He led the team in sacks last season. Davis will replace Bart Scott at weak-inside linebacker.

"It's Demario Davis' turn now," Ryan said. "Demario is ready to be a great player."

PROMOTION: Ryan announced that RBs coach Anthony Lynn has been named assistant head coach/offense.