Fitzpatrick, Jets prepare to face J.J. Watt

Howard Simmons Ryan Fitzpatrick has surgery on his non-throwing hand after a loss to the Bills, but insists he will be ready to play against the Texans Sunday. “I have to see how he heals and how he takes snaps”, he said.

Veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick has had a relatively solid season in 2015 for the NY Jets, but that doesn’t necessarily mean his job is safe.

NY is favored to win this matchup and while Houston will again flaunt their defensive prowess, Fitzpatrick has too many offensive options that the Texans would not be able to cover all at the same time. Fitzpatrick was injured at Oakland on November 1, but was able to play through it against Jacksonville and Buffalo while wearing a padded and molded brace on his thumb, with his hand covered by a glove. But the Jets seem clear about one thing: A limited Fitzpatrick will start in Houston on Sunday over a healthy Geno Smith, so long as he can step on the field.

Fitzpatrick didn’t practice Wednesday but said the plan is for him to do so Thursday. After the medication wears off and everything, we’ll go from there.

He has thrown for 1,983 yards with 15 touchdowns – the most by a Jets quarterback since Mark Sanchez had 26 in 2011 – and nine interceptions.

“He has a lot of good football left in him”, Maccagnan said. “It’s just a point for me of, just go out and play football and not look at what the offense lines up in and try to play what they play”.

Coach Todd Bowles remained optimistic Monday that the quarterback will play Sunday after Fitzpatrick had surgery on his left thumb last week.

So far, the move has paid off for the Jets as they already have five wins and are showing that they can contend, unlike last season when they finished with a 4-12 record, missing the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season.