The New York Jets still like Geno Smith, even though they re-signed Ryan Fitzpatrick to a one-year deal on Wednesday.
Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan told reporters Friday that Smith is still in the team’s plans and he assumes the fourth-year quarterback will be on the opening day roster.
Q: Is Geno going to be on Week 1 roster? Maccagnan: “I would assume so. Right now, I know we like Geno Smith… Geno’s in our plans.” #jets
— Kimberley A. Martin (@KMart_LI) July 29, 2016
Including Smith, the Jets have four quarterbacks on the roster. Smith, second-year man Bryce Petty and rookie Christian Hackenberg sit behind Fitzpatrick on the depth chart. Somebody has to go, and that somebody could end up being Smith.
A second-round pick in 2013, Smith finished 8-8 his first year as a starter and 3-10 the year after. Had it not been for a teammate’s punch in the locker room, he probably would have been the starter last year. Instead, the 26-year-old was forced to watch from the sideline as Fitzpatrick had a career year.
Smith, a free agent after next season, knows he’s playing for his future in the NFL.
“It’s no disrespect to anyone, but I’m auditioning for this team and 31 other teams in the NFL,” Smith said Thursday, via ESPN. “There are a lot of things I have to put on tape for a lot of people.”
A change of scenery could be good for Smith, but he’s stuck with the Jets for now.
