The New York Jets are a mess and after Rex Ryan played Mark Sanchez in the preseason and he got injured, many felt that the season could be a lost cause despite the fact that it would mean Geno Smith would get to start and now that he has, there is some hope in New York.
The team is playing the Patriots on Thursday night and while they will need plenty to go right in that game to win, Geno Smith at least gives the team some electricity. Sanchez looked like he would be the starter as the preseason was coming to a close, but Ryan made the boneheaded decision to play him with third string players against the Giants and now his season is likely over.
According to ESPN.com, there is a good chance that Sanchez will have surgery on his injured shoulder and that would end the season for the embattled quarterback. The Jets likely will move on from Sanchez when the season is over anyway, but now that appears to be almost a sure thing if he ends up getting surgery. Sanchez has not yet made a decision on whether he will go under the knife or not, but since Smith has started and he is the future, his best bet would be to get healthy for next season when he can sign with another team.
Ryan made a terrible decision to play Sanchez, but now he may have salvaged the Jets season, as they already pulled out a win over the Buccaneers and if Smith continues to play well, the Jets could have a chance at a wild card position. Sanchez met with legendary Dr. James Andrews and he said that it was likely he will have surgery and that comes after the Jets were able to squeak by with an 18-17 win against the Bucs that came after a horrendous penalty, but Smith looked good for most of the game and while he did fumble, he looked poised and not flustered when dropping back.
It remains to be seen how the team will play on Thursday, but the Jets may have had some luck on their side with Sanchez getting hurt, as Smith could be the real answer for the team.
