The New York Jets' preseason just took a turn for the worse. As the team enters a critical year for the franchise, the Jets made several moves this offseason to improve the roster. The goal was to surround Geno Smith with as many weapons as possible to be successful as the starting quarterback. However, the most important move might have been the trade for Ryan Fitzpatrick as Smith is now out for the next 6-10 weeks.
According to ESPN's Rich Cimini, Smith will be out the next 6-10 weeks following a locker room altercation with linebacker IK Enemkpali which resulted in the quarterback suffering a broken jaw that will require surgery. According to head coach Todd Bowles, the argument was childish as was the fight that followed.
"It was nothing to do with football. ... It was very childish," Bowles said, via ESPN.com. "He got cold-cocked ... sucker punched, whatever you want to call it, in the jaw. He's got a broken jaw, a fractured jaw."
With Smith out, the pressure is now on Fitzpatrick and rookie Bryce Petty. The Jets traded for Fitzpatrick following the release of Michael Vick. The quarterback could not show much in preseason workouts as he healed from a broken leg suffered while playing for the Houston Texans, but now that he is fully healthy he was pushing for a quarterback competition. Fitzpatrick had originally been told he could compete for the top quarterback spot and now it is expected to be handed to him after the injury.
"The thing we stress every day and Coach Bowles stresses is he going to put the best guys on the field to help the team win," Fitzpatrick said, via ESPN.com. "That is what we are all here for, to win football games."
According to Kevin Seifert of NFL Nation, Fitzpatrick is the logical starter over Petty who is still learning the offense. Having Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker to work with will certainly be critical for the quarterback at the start of things. Those two top receivers are expected to bail out the offense this season and the Jets will see just how true that might be. Fitzpatrick has a lot of knowledge of this offense in New York considering his experience with Chan Gailey in Buffalo. That will make the transition with Marshall and Decker much easier.
Fitzpatrick is the definition of a journeyman. The Jets will be getting a savvy veteran in place of Smith for the time being. If Fitzpatrick gets off to a good start and wins a few games, Smith could be on the bench for the remainder of the year as Bowles would go with the hot hand.