The Jets will turn to Ryan Fitzpatrick as their starting quarterback after Geno Smith suffered a broken jaw in a locker-room fight, and it’s possible they’ll keep Fitzpatrick under center even after Smith heals.
Jets coach Todd Bowles said today that if Fitzpatrick plays well while Smith is out, Fitzpatrick could remain the starter.
“I’m confident in Ryan,” Bowles said. “Ryan’s had a good camp. Geno was having a good camp, too, so it’s hard to replace a guy when both guys are doing well. But Ryan’s been a pro, he’s been here before, he has a lot of games under his belt, he knows the system, he knows how to throw the ball, he understands the game.”
Bowles indicated that linebacker IK Enemkpali, who was cut for punching Smith in the locker room, wasn’t the only one who did something wrong. Bowles hinted that Smith could have de-escalated the situation.
“It takes two to tango. One to throw a punch, but two to tango,” Bowles said.
As a result of that “tango,” Enemkpali is no longer a Jet, and Smith may no longer be the Jets’ starting quarterback.