The Jets ended their three-game losing streak on Sunday with a dominant 38-0 win over the Raiders, but they lost RB-RS Leon Washington for the season when he broke his right leg in the first quarter on his only carry of the game as Raiders DT Tommy Kelly rolled up on his leg and caused the fibula to break through the skin, according to players who said they could see his bone poking out on the field.

Washington, who made the Pro Bowl as a kick returner last season, underwent surgery after the game, according to reports, and the Jets placed him on injured reserve Monday, bringing his season to an end.

The fourth-year veteran, who has 72 carries for 331 yards and zero touchdowns along with 15 catches for 131 yards and zero TDs this season, will be a free agent after the season.

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The key injuries are beginning to pile up for the Jets, who lost NT Kris Jenkins for the season after he tore his ACL last week, but the absence of two talented teammates didn't have much of an effect on the team Sunday, as New York had its way with the befuddled Raiders.

Washington was valuable as a scat-back alternative to Thomas Jones' power running, but Washington will be missed the most on special teams, where he was a homerun threat every time he made a kick return. CB Dwight Lowery handled New York's only kickoff return on Sunday and returned it for 17 yards. The Jets only have two healthy running backs on their roster, so they might decide to see what's available on the free-agent market to add some depth at the position.

The injury did, however create a greater opportunity for rookie RB Shonn Greene, and the Iowa product made the most of it, rushing 19 times for 144 yards and two touchdowns in his first extended action of the season. Greene had just seven carries in his first four games. Instead of a "thunder and lightning" 1-2 punch of Jones and Washington, defenses are going to see thunder and more thunder from the Jets with two powerful backs in Jones, who has gained 331 yards rushing in his last two games after being held to 54 yards or less in each of the previous four contests, and Greene. With Washington set to become a free agent this offseason, this may be the backfield Jets go with for the next season and a half before Jones hits free agency in 2011.

Defenses already frequently stack eight players in the box to try and take away the Jets' rushing attack and force rookie QB Mark Sanchez to beat them, and they will continue to do so, leaving a heavy burden on the offensive line, Jones and Greene.

The Jets' next three opponents — the Dolphins, the Jaguars (after a bye week) and the Patriots — have given up a just 11 rushing touchdowns combined. Miami and Jacksonville are both ranked in the top 12 vs. the run, so New York's offense will be seriously tested.

It's up to Greene, who is slowly gaining the confidence of his coaching staff after it didn't find a role for him early in the season, to step up in his new role and provide the consistent, hard-running presence the Jets badly need from him.