The NY Jets are in training camp and head coach Todd Bowles had Geno Smith as the starter over Ryan Fitzpatrick, but Smith could get benched if he struggles and this comes as New York could deal with another Sheldon Richardson suspension after news of his latest arrest, while Muhammad Wilkerson has attended camp despite being upset over his contract.
The Jets are coming into the season with high expectations after signing back Darrelle Revis and hiring Bowles and training camp will be very important for the new head coach. Smith is coming in as the starting quarterback in camp, but Bowles said to the media that things could change if the quarterback struggles early in the season. CBS Sports reporter Jason La Canfora reports that Smith could get "half a season" to prove that he should stay the starting quarterback in his third season.
The Jets have a bye in Week 5 and depending on how the team opens the season, a critical decision could be made during that break regarding Smith. Smith comes in after playing in 14 games last season, throwing 13 touchdowns and 13 interceptions while putting up 2525 yards. Smith only completed 59 percent of his passes last season, but that was an improvement from 2013 when he was at 55 percent in 16 games.
According to Pro Football Talk, Smith is expected to have a "long leash" early in the season and the team feels comfortable with Fitzpatrick as a backup they can turn to if things do not go right. The Jets added Brandon Marshall in a trade and the team also drafted Devin Smith and the team expects the offense to be improved. Zac Stacy and Stevan Ridley join Bilal Powell and Chris Ivory in the backfield after Chris Johnson was not brought back.
Bowles is hoping the offense will be better and drafting Smith could help, as he will be slotted at the number three spot with Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker at wide receiver. Smith was drafted in the second round and according to Dom Cosentino of NJ.com, Smith suffered a "slightly" punctured lung injury in training camp on Saturday. Pro Football Talk reports that Smith could be out for the rest of camp and his availability for the first game of the season "remains unknown." Smith has the potential to be an explosive player for the Jets after running a 4.42 40-yard dash, but now his status could be up in the air.
The Jets have had some issues on the defensive line this offseason with Muhammad Wilkerson looking for a new contract and Sheldon Richardson getting suspended. Richardson was suspended for drug use and he also came up in the headlines this week, as news came out about him getting arrested for resisting arrest after drag racing in Missouri. According to Newsday, the Jets had "no knowledge" of the arrest until news broke. Wilkerson has reported to camp after reports that he possibly could hold out and Mike Maccagnan reportedly wants to extend the defensive lineman.
