Geno Smith never got a chance to compete for the New York Jets’ starting quarterback job. But he won’t have to battle for the backup gig, either.
Head coach Todd Bowles said Saturday that Smith, who directed the drive that finished with what proved to be the game-winning touchdown in Thursday’s 17-13 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, is entrenched as the second-stringer behind Ryan Fitzpatrick.
Some eyebrows were raised Thursday night when second-year quarterback Bryce Petty played the final six series (counting a kneel-down in the final 10 seconds) against the Jaguars, but Bowles said Petty is not going to push Smith.
“Won’t make a competition after one preseason game,” Bowles said. “Geno’s No. 2. Fitz is No. 1. Bryce is three.”
Bowles added that “Hack” – second-round rookie Christian Hackenberg – is the fourth-stringer. Hackenberg did not play a snap Thursday night, which provided more evidence the Jets view this as a redshirt season for the Penn State product, who absorbed more than 100 sacks as a collegian.
The snaps that might have gone to Hackenberg will now fall to Petty, who has to prove to the Jets that it’s worth carrying four quarterbacks into the regular season. Petty was a fourth-round pick in last year’s draft but was active for just one game, during which he did not take the field.
Petty finished 7-for-14 for 93 yards. He didn’t direct the Jets to any points, though rookie kicker Ross Martin missed field-goal attempts of 39 yards and 53 yards.
“I felt like I was so much more comfortable than last year, which is exactly what I wanted,” Petty said.
–Running back Matt Forte (hamstring) has yet to practice during training camp. Head coach Todd Bowles was vague about Forte’s prognosis on Saturday, when he said the 30 year old is “day-by-day or week-to-week.” The uncertain timeline would seem to put Forte, who was injured working out before training camp, in danger of missing the Jets’ second preseason game next Friday against the Washington Redskins.
–Cornerback Darrelle Revis (wrist) was active but did not play against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the Jets’ preseason opener on Thursday night. Revis sat out the first three practices of training camp while recovering from offseason surgery and is “still getting his legs under him,” according to head coach Todd Bowles. Revis practiced in full on Saturday and appears likely to play in the Jets’ second preseason game next Friday night against the Washington Redskins.
[Source: UPI]
