NY Jets Tim Tebow calls signals in practice, but for the punt team - New York Daily News

Robert Sabo/New York Daily News

Tim Tebow spends portion of practice Monday calling signals - for Jets' punt team.

When Tim Tebow lines up as a personal punt protector, he is still more or less a quarterback.

Tebow peers over his own linemen, reading the opponents before barking orders to match the defensive alignment.

“I feel confident doing that,” Tebow said. “It’s just reading people and players and number counts.”

And just like Tebow had in college â€" and could perhaps in the Wildcat â€" he has options with the punt unit. The backup QB said he can choose what play to run once out on the field, and ran audibles multiple times during Saturday's preseason loss to the Giants.

“(Special teams coach Mike Westhoff) gives me some freedom back there, and puts a lot of confidence and faith in me to make the right decisions and get us in the right protections or calls or fakes or whatever,” he said. A fake in the preseason has “crossed our mind,” said Tebow, but he noted that they’ve mostly seen conservative looks that allow for easy coverage. Because of that, he’s been more inclined to simply punt it away.

HOLMES IN RED
Receivers Santonio Holmes (ribs) and Jeremy Kerley (hamstring) worked in positional drills on Monday, with Holmes in a red noncontact scrimmage jersey. Rex Ryan said he didn’t know whether Holmes or Kerley would play on Sunday against Carolina, but reiterated that he expects Holmes to be ready for the season opener against Buffalo. Ryan said WR Chaz Schilens (ankle) will not play on Sunday.

FULLBACK FALLBACK
Linebacker Nick Bellore wore a white jersey and practiced with the offense during positional drills. The team is trying to use him as a FB to add depth at that position.

“It’s always been a dream of mine to carry the ball and catch the ball â€" (I’ll) probably just end up blocking and stuff,” Bellore said. He last played offense in high school, when he was on the offensive line and a tight end/fullback.

STILL BOOTING
Two days after botching several punts against the Giants, T.J. Conley said he didn’t expect the team to bring in anyone else to compete with him. Conley made several very nice punts but had one or two shanks as well.