EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - The MetLife Stadium crowd called for Tim Tebow.

Little did it know that only divine intervention - or a far closer game - could have gotten him onto the field after he suffered fractured ribs two weeks ago.

Tebow revealed the injury after the Jets' 49-19 debacle of a loss Thursday night to the New England Patriots. He had suffered the broken ribs in the Week 10 defeat to Seattle while on offense.

But for some inexplicable reason, coach Rex Ryan chose to suit him up anyway just in case "we absolutely have to have him to win a football game." In doing so, he passed over healthy No. 3 quarterback Greg McElroy, who was made inactive.

Tebow did play Sunday against the St. Louis Rams with the injury, touching the ball three times. But his ribs worsened in practice as the short week progressed.

Tebow said he does not know how long he will be hindered by the injury.

Ryan dressed him despite admitting that he "wouldn't play my son in that kind of situation."

"As the week went on, it seemed to get progressively worse," Ryan said. "...His breathing was a little different. I was standing there and I was like, 'I'm not going to play this kid.'"

Ryan added that Tebow would have played had he been given a choice. That left McElroy inactive.

"I had to do a little bit of talking just to dress," Tebow said. "I just wanted to be there for my teammates in case they needed me in an emergency situation."

That talking somehow convinced a skeptical Ryan.

"The thought did go through my mind to possibly deactivate (Tebow)," he said. "But when he came out here he felt that if he had to go then he could get it done. That was my decision."

The angry crowd at MetLife called for Tebow to play during the 35-point second quarter, chanting "Te-BOW!, Te-BOW!, Te-BOW!"

Little did it know that he basically was unavailable.

"I don't pay attention to that," Tebow said.