Petty Please
Is this the week where Bryce Petty finally gets his first NFL start? Not if Todd Bowles can help it. With Ryan Fitzpatrick listed as a game-time decision with a sprained knee, this is the perfect opportunity for Bowles to go with his second-year quarterback and not face any controversy over it, especially going into a bye week. But he’s sticking to his guy.
“Ryan is our quarterback,” Bowles said after last week’s loss to the Dolphins, insinuating that if he’s healthy, Fitz will be the starter.
Fitzpatrick is still listed as questionable, and has seen his reps halved this week in practice while nursing his knee injury, but Bowles sounds like he’s hoping Fitz can be ready for Sunday’s matchup against the Rams in East Rutherford.
“He’s getting better than he was,” says Bowles. “I’ve still got to see him work out Sunday and make that decision.”
Meanwhile, the guy taking the other half of the first team reps is itching to make his first NFL start. It was only a couple months ago when Bryce Petty suffered a shoulder injury that put his future in New York in jeopardy. He looked to be the odd man out in a crowded quarterback group, not experienced enough to serve as a starter or backup, but likely still behind second round pick Christian Hackenberg on the team’s list of priorities. Now Petty is a game-time decision away from starting, and if he does make the start, he will no doubt be greeted by cheers from the fans in green and white.
Todd Bowles is still sticking to the same method when it comes to his starting quarterback. Whoever gives him the best chance to win will start, no questions asked. That was the philosophy when Bowles stuck with Fitz early on, it was the philosophy when he switched to Geno Smith, and it’s the philosophy now. The only reason that a debate even exists is because of the injury to Fitz, but don’t tell Petty. The quarterback out of Baylor has been making the most of his opportunities in practice, showing up early to the facilities, studying film overtime, and showing a combination of patience and an eagerness to get in the game. In his minor appearance against Miami, Petty completed both of his passes for a total of 19 years in a short drive that would result in a field goal. Bowles didn’t quite hand over the reins in Petty’s lone drive, knowing Fitzpatrick was about to make his return, but Petty didn’t look lost in the situation, and more reps in practice will continue to give him the progress he needs.
For all we know, the Petty talk could all be for naught, and Fitzpatrick could be healthy enough to start against Los Angeles and do just enough to get the nod from Bowles going forward. However, the reality of the situation is that this Jets team is not playoff bound. With two games against the New England Patriots looming, at least eight losses seem inevitable, which means at some point Petty should get his shot to lead this offense and prove what he can do. The question remains, when will Bowles abandon his current mentality and make the switch? For most Jet fans, it can’t come soon enough. For Bryce Petty, well, he’s ready whenever you are.
