NFL: Sanchez to start for Jets after McElroy sidelined

New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez pats quarterback Greg McElroy on the helmet after a scoring drive against the San Diego Chargers during the first quarter of their NFL football game in East Rutherford, New Jersey December 23, 2012.

(Reuters) - Beleaguered New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez will return to a starting role after Greg McElroy was declared out for Sunday's game at Buffalo with concussion-like symptoms, Jets coach Rex Ryan said on Thursday.

McElroy, the starter in last week's loss to San Diego, developed headaches while lifting weights on Thursday and is being evaluated for a concussion, Ryan told reporters.

He will not play in the Jets' final regular-season game after being sacked 11 times against San Diego.

Sanchez began the season as the Jets' starter but was benched after the Jets, now 6-9 and out of the playoff picture, lost to Tennessee on December 17.

Ryan said he chose Sanchez over back-up Tim Tebow because the Jets had won the season opener against Buffalo with Sanchez at quarterback.

"The fact that Mark had success earlier in the year against them, I thought this was the right decision," the coach said.

Tebow, who was already upset the Jets had turned to McElroy rather than him last week, was not happy with the latest decision, Ryan said.

(Reporting by Gene Cherry in Salvo, North Carolina, editing by Mark Meadows)