Holmes said his objective is “to not have any setbacks by moving too fast. The season doesn’t start until September. Definitely have to take our time and I’ll be ready to go when the bell rings.”

The Jets open in 50 days against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Darrelle Revis. Holmes wouldn’t guarantee he’ll be there, insisting he’s in a day-to-day mode. When pressed on his availability for Week 1, he said, “Once the season gets ready to start, hopefully I’ll be ready to roll.”

It won’t be easy.

Holmes, still not running and cutting at full speed, is expected to begin training camp on the physically-unable-to-perform list. He’s been running at least three days a week, but he’s limited to a gravity-assisted treadmill — in other words, no full weight-bearing activity.

“I don’t have a target date,” Holmes said in blistering heat at a charity flag-football event on Roosevelt Island. “I’m just stating the facts that the season starts soon and I don’t want to do anything to jeopardize myself for being ready for the season.”

Holmes suffered a LisFranc injury last October — a Grade 4 injury, the most severe kind. He underwent two surgeries, the latter in February to remove screws that were inserted in the initial operation.

He acknowledged its severity, saying “it’s really difficult to learn how to walk again. You don’t realize what you have until it’s gone. To lose a ligament and have separation in your joints and have screws placed in there, it takes a while to get back into the swing of things.”

Holmes said LisFranc injuries have been known to “shut down careers.” But he said he never thought his career was in jeopardy. Holmes, wearing a compression sleeve on his lower left leg, seemed to be walking gingerly as he mingled with fans Saturday on an artificial-turf field.

“It’s been getting better,” he said. “We’ve been making great progress every day. That’s all the coaches and trainers are looking for — continue to make great progress and not have any setbacks.”

The Jets are counting on Holmes because he’s their top playmaker, but they’re prepared for the likelihood that he will miss time in camp. That will pose a challenge because they’re installing a new system. It also could hurt his chemistry with rookie Geno Smith — if he wins the starting job.

Holmes, who has publicly backed Mark Sanchez in the past, stayed away from any bold comments on the anticipated quarterback competition. Asked if he’d be surprised if Smith wins the job, Holmes replied, “If Rex (Ryan) loves him, we have to love him.”

The post Santonio Holmes: Still no target date appeared first on IdealCapper.

Irving made it through a full practice on Sunday and took part in the Cavs’ morning shootaround Monday. Barring any setbacks, Cavs coach Byron Scott said Irving will start against the Knicks. The Cavs rested Irving all last week, holding him out of games against Chicago, Toronto and the Los Angeles Clippers.

The Cavs listed Irving as “probable” for the game with the Knicks, who were beaten at home on Sunday by the streaking Miami Heat, winners of 14 straight. Cleveland also listed rookie guard Dion Waiters and center Tyler Zeller as “questionable” because of illness.

The Cavs went 2-1 last week without Irving, who has missed 14 games in his second NBA season because of injuries. He banged knees in practice last month with teammate Omri Casspi and played in two road games despite soreness before the team sat him out. Irving missed 11 games with a broken index finger.

The NBA’s Rookie of the Year in 2012, Irving is averaging 23.3 points, 5.6 assists and 3.6 rebounds.

He scored a career-high 41 points on Dec. 15 in a loss to the Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Irving played that game wearing a protective mask over a broken jaw.

The Knicks have lost 10 consecutive games in Cleveland.

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Wall completed his third straight day of practice with no setbacks Friday. He said he’s feeling no discomfort in his knee.

The former No. 1 overall pick has been sidelined since being diagnosed with a stress injury to his left kneecap in September.

Coach Randy Wittman said he’ll have to keep an eye on Wall’s conditioning during the next few games. Wall said he’s still “getting his legs.”

Without Wall, the Wizards are 5-28 — the worst record in the NBA.

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Neither Woodson nor Stoudemire termed the latest development a “setback” in Stoudemire’s attempt to return from Oct. 31 left knee surgery.

“He was probably a little sore and that’s probably the reason for (limiting his minutes). So I’ve got to be open-minded to that and do what’s asked. That’s the right thing to do,” Woodson said after practice Wednesday.

The coach added that he “shouldn’t have” played Stoudemire 28 minutes in the Knicks’ 102-96 loss to the Celtics. That was a season-high for Stoudemire, who has played four games since coming back from the debridement procedure.

Stoudemire admitted that he felt “a little bit sore” after the Boston game but, like Woodson, downplayed the notion that he has suffered a setback.

“I feel great,” said Stoudemire, who’s averaging 10 points and 2.3 rebounds in 20 minutes through four games. “I just think we’re taking a precautionary route. Just making sure that everything [continues] to improve. I think that’s about it, really. No setbacks, no re-injury, anything like that. I feel great.”

Stoudemire played between 17 and 21 minutes in his first three games and logged 28 against Boston, when he was on the floor for most of the fourth quarter.

Woodson said Stoudemire would play between 20 and 23 minutes Thursday at Indiana. He will come off the bench for the Knicks (23-11), just as he’s done in the previous four games. Stoudemire’s status for Friday’s game against Chicago is uncertain because it’s the second game of a back-to-back.

“This is a long haul, guys. I’m not going to sit here and jeopardize STAT’s situation,” Woodson said. “I feel good about what we have with [Marcus] Camby and Kurt [Thomas] and if doctors are saying that we have to limit him, then that’s what we have to do.”

Any issue regarding Stoudemire’s knee is treated with caution because he has a history of knee ailments. He had microfracture surgery on his left knee in 2005. He recovered well from that procedure, but the knee is still considered vulnerable. He also has had a procedure on his right knee.

Most teams were scared off by Stoudemire’s history of knee ailments during summer 2010, when he was a free agent. The Knicks signed the former Phoenix Suns player to a five-year, $100 million contract, but the deal was uninsured because of the condition of Stoudemire’s knees.

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