HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. -- New York Jets quarterback Chad Pennington will have surgery to repair a tear in his right rotator cuff shortly after the Super Bowl, and team doctors are optimistic he will be ready to throw by training camp.

The arthroscopic surgery will be conducted by shoulder specialist Dr. James Andrews, Pennington's choice.

Team medical director Elliott Pellman revealed at a news conference Tuesday that the team, which initially described the injury as a strain, knew there was a tear in the muscle since the first MRI exam was conducted after the injury in November.

Pellman insisted that the Jets didn't risk further injury or damage to Pennington's shoulder by clearing him to play those final seven games of the season, during which the Jets went 3-4.

"We did not allow him to return to play until we were satisfied that he was strong enough and pain-free enough to be able to return to play with minimal risk," Pellman said. "Was there risk with him returning to play? Minimal. The area of his cuff was torn. The rest of his cuff looked absolutely fine.

Chad Pennington will try to return from a surgery that is unusual for quarterbacks. (AP)

After surgery, which won't take place until after the Feb. 6 Super Bowl because Pennington is away in Florida, Pellman said there will be three to four weeks of full rest with the arm in a sling and then three to four months of range-of-motion physical therapy.

That would mean Pennington should be able to start throwing sometime in late June or even early July, just before training camp begins.

"We are optimistic that Chad will do absolutely fine, and we are optimistic that, in fact, he will be ready for training camp," Pellman said. "Given that, however, it is surgery, and there are black holes with any type of surgery. We will have to wait and see."

Pennington was hurt Nov. 7 against Buffalo after he was hit hard following a scramble, and missed three games. The Jets did their best to hide the extent of the injury. When asked whether there was a tear in the rotator cuff the day after Pennington got hurt, coach Herman Edwards said, "No. Strain. That's what it is."

The severity of the injury is disconcerting, because rotator cuff tears are uncommon for quarterbacks. Pitchers are the most likely athletes to sustain the injury, and many take up to a year to fully recover. But quarterbacks do not throw the ball as hard and have fewer motions, so the recovery time could take as few as six months.

In addition, the Jets gave Pennington a $64 million, seven-year contract extension before the season started, banking their future on him. The Jets also are in the market for a backup QB because Quincy Carter is a free agent and expected to look for a starting job elsewhere.