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Three days before the biggest game of the season, the New York Jets suffered a major setback that will affect them long past Monday night's showdown against the New England Patriots.

Safety Jim Leonhard, the glue to the secondary and their top punt returner, fractured his right tibia Friday in a freak collision in practice, the Jets confirmed.

The 5-foot-8, 188-pound Leonhard collided with wide receiver Patrick Turner and was carted off the field, leaving teammates and coaches shaken. That portion of practice was closed to the media.

Leonhard was scheduled for surgery Friday night at Morristown Memorial Hospital. There was no damage to the fibula, knee or ankle, and the fracture didn't break the skin, according to the Jets. Leonhard is expected to miss the remainder of the season, although the Jets wouldn't confirm that, saying they wanted to wait until after surgery before commenting on his status.

"It doesn't look good," one team source said.

Minutes after practice, a somber Rex Ryan began his news conference by saying, "We've got some terrible news." Ryan, who considers the heady Leonhard the quarterback of the defense, called it "a huge blow to us." Defensive coordinator Mike Pettine said "we were all crushed" when the injury occurred.