Jets' backup quarterback job suddenly seems to be up for grabs

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Ryan Fitzpatrick was just being honest when asked how much he is invested in the depth chart behind him, his “not at all” comment after the New York Jets practiced Sunday speaking to his security as the starter.

But as training camp hurtles toward Saturday night’s all-important third preseason game, at home against the New York Giants, and eventually toward the season opener Sept. 11 against the Cincinnati Bengals, the conversation surrounding who will be No. 2 behind Fitzpatrick grows ever more complicated.

And secretive.

Jets coach Todd Bowles declined to say Sunday if Geno Smith remains the primary backup, or if his established pecking order of Smith-Bryce Petty-Christian Hackenberg had changed. Hackenberg, the rookie who has yet to take a snap in the preseason, remains fourth. But the question over two and three arose after Friday night’s preseason game at the Washington Redskins, when Smith struggled — again, this time throwing an interception into triple coverage — and Petty shined, throwing a long touchdown pass to Robby Anderson.

So not only do the Jets have a decision to make about whether to keep four quarterbacks on their final roster, it appears they also have one to make regarding who will be active on game days.

“I was clear about every position 1-2-3-4 going in, until we make a change there won’t be,” Bowles said. “That’s any position. When we make a decision at the end of camp — if it changes, it changes; if it doesn’t, it doesn’t. Right now they’re all playing, and we’re trying to see who sorts out what.”

Smith’s primary advantage lies in his experience. He was the Jets’ starter for 29 games between 2013-14. Petty has never taken a regular-season snap and used his rookie season a year ago just to begin the adjustment from running a spread offense in college to learning how to run and NFL huddle. So far this preseason, he's proving he's learned quite a bit.

“In the game, I’m a lot more confident, not as antsy in the pocket,” he said Sunday. “I’m not as rushed in my thought process. I’ve got to keep building on that.”

Smith appeared to get more snaps in practice Sunday, and Bowles was asked if he might get a longer look in place of Fitzpatrick on Saturday, which could leave Petty getting no reps.

“All of them have got to be up to play,” Bowles said. “We’ve got a plan for the quarterbacks that we’re not revealing, and Saturday we’ll play the guys we have scheduled to play. We do have a plan to play certain people.”

He remained evasive when asked if it was clear Smith would be No. 2.

“To be clear, we have a plan on who we we’re going to play that we’re not going to reveal,” he said.

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Sullivan writes for The Record (Bergen County, N.J.), part of the Paste BN NETWORK

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