Two days after saying Wayne Hunter would remain the starter in the team's third preseason game, coach Rex Ryan announced that Austin Howard will take Hunter's spot against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday night at right tackle.

Hunter, 31, has been the subject of heavy criticism after struggling last season, his first full year as a starter. He missed time this preseason with a back injury, and then gave up 2½ sacks against the Giants' in the team's second preseason game on Saturday.

Howard, 25, was signed by the Jets off the Baltimore Ravens' practice squad last November. He has played in just four NFL regular season games, in 2010 for the Philadelphia Eagles, who signed him as an undrafted free agent out of Northern Iowa.

"The more I went back and looked at where we're at as a football team, and getting feedback from coaches, and knowing the history of Wayne's success that Wayne had basically as a sixth man, I've decided that that's the way we're gonna go," Ryan said. "I'm gonna put Wayne in that role, where really he excelled. And that's being a guy that basically fits at -- whether it's a tackle, guard, tight end, all that kind of stuff. So I'm gonna move Wayne back to that role."

"We're gonna give Austin Howard a shot to be with this first group," Ryan added. "I thought he earned that right. He played extremely well against Cincinnati, did OK against the Giants, but really played well against Cincinnati, and this is what I wanna do. I'm gonna put him in that situation, and we'll see how he does this week."

Also Thursday, Ryan said the Jets don't plan to use their Wildcat formation with Tim Tebow at all during the preseason. They have used Tebow only in a conventional-style offense so far in games, and as the personal punt protector on special teams. Ryan anticipates starting quarterback Mark Sanchez playing into the third quarter against Carolina on Sunday night, with Tebow playing the rest of the way.