JACKSONVILLE – The Jets yesterday continued with their “no comment” stance on the whereabouts of backup quarterback Quincy Carter, who ESPN reported has checked into a rehab facility after having an alleged drug relapse.

Days before the Jets were to play the Steelers in the AFC playoffs, Carter was excused from the team, according to the Jets, to tend to his ill mother Sherry Carter-Embree, in Georgia. He missed the game and, because he’s a free agent, didn’t figure to be in the Jets’ plans anyway after the season.

This is at least a third trip to rehab for Carter, who’d checked into treatment centers in January 2003 and July 2004. A few weeks after the last one, he was cut by the Cowboys.

The Jets signed Carter to a one-year, $555,000 contract to be Chad Pennington’s primary backup. With Pennington sidelined three games with a rotator cuff tear in his right shoulder, Carter won two of his three starts, though didn’t look very impressive moving the offense in doing so.

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Pennington is expected to undergo surgery on his partially torn rotator cuff today, according to a Jets official. From there, he’ll be sidelined three to four months but should be ready for training camp, the Jets said.

RB Curtis Martin, who announced he won’t play in the Pro Bowl, isn’t believed to be injured, according to a Jets official who said he’d “find out more” today when he meets with Herman Edwards.

(p. 82 in metro)