Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick practiced for the Jets again on Thursday, which would seem to have him on track to play against the Rams this Sunday despite the sprained knee he suffered last weekend.
There have been plenty of people suggesting that the Jets make the move to Bryce Petty even if Fitzpatrick is healthy, although the Jets aren’t there yet and they don’t appear to be all that close either. Coach Todd Bowles said Fitzpatrick isn’t playing on a short leash heading into this weekend’s game and explained that position by saying that Fitzpatrick isn’t the sole reason for the team’s poor record this season.
“Because Fitzpatrick is not the only one playing over there,” Bowles said in comments distributed by the team. “This is a team game. We lose games with more than just Fitzpatrick. We lose it with the offensive line, defensive line, [defensive backs], linebackers, receivers, running backs, and he’s ultimately responsible for his position but not everybody else and everybody else is responsible for their job. So, when you look at the film and you see mistakes made, it’s across the board. It’s not just Fitz. And if I felt there was enough mistakes where I could put somebody else in there right now, I would put them in there.”
The Jets did make a change earlier this season by inserting Geno Smith into the lineup, but Smith’s torn ACL ended that run after less than a half. Bowles said he’ll need a “quarterback controversy” to make another change and, for now, Petty hasn’t created one in his coach’s mind.
