Ryan Fitzpatrick: Will Remain Starter
Head coach Todd Bowles was on a conference call Tuesday and told the media that Fitzpatrick had earned the job, something that extends past when Geno Smith returns from his broken jaw in a few weeks.
“Ryan will get all the first-team reps”, Bowles said, in his typical understated fashion, when asked Tuesday about the depth chart once Smith is cleared for practice.
Fitzpatrick found Marshall for a 15-yard touchdown pass to cap an 80-yard drive with 6:29 remaining in the fourth quarter and that made it 17-7 Jets at the time.
With Fitzpatrick mostly impressive in leading the Jets to a 2-0 record, Geno Smith (jaw) is expected to rejoin the team in a backup role, likely at some point in October. Smith lead the FBS with almost 30 yards per catch past year at Ohio State and displayed serious ball skills downfield.
Cassell has 71 starts in 90 games over 11 seasons, not counting the opener this year when he took the first snap for the Bills with Tyrod Taylor lined up at receiver. Throughout his career, the Harvard graduate plays well during the first half of a season and tends to tail off as the National Football League schedule moves into December.
Despite his short-lived stint with the Eagles – he joined the Cardinals two weeks after Chip Kelly was named Philadelphia’s new head coach after the season – Bowles appreciated his time with the organization and how it helped him become a better coach.
If they play their cards right they may end up having a lot to say.
Two games, two wins.
“There was communication”, Fitzpatrick acknowledged today after practice at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center.
There will be no quarterback controversy for the New York Jets.
On if he has to temper the players’ enthusiasm and remind them it is a long season…
“I do, I love Fitz”, Colon said. “They want me out there, I want to be out there, so [Bowles’ announcement] wasn’t really a big deal to me other than I’m excited for an opportunity on Sunday to go out there and play well”.
We’ll get Geno ready, but Ryan is going to stay sharp and Ryan is going to be taking the first-team reps.
Fitzpatrick completed 22 of 34 passes for 244 yards and two touchdowns in that game, and perhaps could have thrown more except for the fact the Jets still seemed focused on establishing the run against an Indianapolis defense that was loading the box.
That being said, nothing will change, according to Bowles. “He has to read defenses all over again”. Once he gets back into that flow, I think it’ll start coming back to him pretty good.