Tim Tebow will miss his second straight game this Sunday and be inactive for the first time as a Jet, thanks to his cracked ribs, according to an ESPN.com report.

Tebow was active for the Patriots game on Thanksgiving but did not play. With him inactive this weekend, third string QB Greg McElroy now becomes the backup.

Rex Ryan would not confirm the report, saying, "That could be true ... I haven't made that decision or anybody else made that decision," the Jets coach said.

Ryan said that the Jets were "going to monitor the situation."

A source said Ryan has planned all week to have Tebow inactive for Sunday's game with the Cardinals. But the Jets do not have to make a final decision until Sunday.

Bill Kostroun/New York Post

Tim Tebow talks to reporters at Jets practice Friday.

If Tebow is out, the Jets’ Wildcat options are history for this weekend, unless they were to employ somebody else in that capacity, such as a Jeremy Kerley. However, that seems pretty unlikely, considering that Kerley has emerged – with Santonio Holmes out – to be the Jets top receiver. The Jets also won't have Tebow to be their personal punt protector on special teams.

Tebow, who spoke Friday in the Jets locker room before the report emerged that he's slated to be inactive, said, “I feel like I’m getting a little bit better every day.”

With Brian Costello