Santonio Holmes will miss rest of season for New York Jets

Santonio Holmes will have surgery on his injured left foot, ending the 2012 season for the New York Jets’ star receiver after just four games, the team announced Wednesday.

Holmes fell to the ground without being touched after making a catch early in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s game against the San Francisco 49ers. He has been diagnosed with a Lisfranc foot injury and was placed on the injured reserved list.

“It’s a big loss for us,” Coach Rex Ryan said Wednesday.

A seven-year veteran who was the Super Bowl XLIII MVP as a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Holmes is the Jets’ best receiver. This season, his third with the Jets, he has 20 receptions for 272 yards -- both team highs -- to go with one touchdown.

Looking to fill the void at wide receiver, the Jets signed free agent Jason Hill on Wednesday. The sixth-year player, who has spent time with the San Francisco 49ers and Jacksonville Jaguars, has 76 receptions for 1,028 yards and eight touchdowns -- career numbers that Holmes has matched or bested at some point during a single season.

It’s the second potentially devastating loss to injury for the Jets (2-2) in as many weeks. Star cornerback Darrelle Revis is likely out for the season with a torn ligament in his left knee.

“The fact that we lost two excellent football players does not change out expectations,” Ryan said.

He added: “How many people will feel sorry for the New York Jets? I’ve got the answer ... nobody.”

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