Sometimes in the NFL, you have to be at the right place at the right time. It seems Jets quarterback Matt Simms has positioned himself at just that perfect place at the perfect moment, and in doing so, he’ll have a game to show the New York Jets he can help the team.
Simms, who would normally play very little for the Jets even in preseason play, will be the beneficiary of three injured quarterbacks ahead of him on the depth chart, and is set to start the Jets’ final preseason game according to Albert Breer of NFL.com. Mark Sanchez’s return for the regular season is in question, Geno Smith won’t be on the field until at least week one, and third-string quarterback Greg McElroy aggravated a knee injury in practice.
The Jets’ final preseason game should have been McElroy’s chance to impress his coaches, but he may get another chance down the line. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reported that the injury is only a minor one.
For Simms, this could be his first and last true chance to impress the Jets or another team around the league. Frankly, it wouldn’t take a lot to impress New York at the quarterback position. Mark Sanchez has been his normal streaky self, and Geno Smith has looked just bad on the field.
In preseason action, Simms has completed 11 of 15 passes for 193 yard and a touchdown. His sample size is too small to make a serious impact on any current decisions, but he could make the Jets’ decision difficult if he posts a stellar game to round out the preseason. The Jets currently carry three very mediocre options in front of him, and it’s likely they’d be willing to lose McElroy if they felt Simms held even the slightest hint of promise.
The Jets host the Eagles Thursday night, and in a week with little meaningful play, this is one of the few games actually worth watching, at least for the first half.
