Fitzpatrick back as Jets’ QB after Smith tears ACL
NEW YORK — Geno Smith’s second chance at starting appears to be over, and his playing days with the New York Jets could be, too. An MRI exam Monday revealed that the maligned quarterback has a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, and Smith seeking a second opinion on the injury that would end his season. That means Ryan Fitzpatrick is back from the bench and will start Sunday for the Jets at Cleveland.
“When you hear that, that’s tough luck for the kid,” coach Todd Bowles said during a conference call. “Fitzpatrick finished the game up, and we’re going from there with Fitz.”
Smith, a second-round pick in 2013 who is scheduled to be a free agent after the season, injured his knee in his first start since 2014 while taking a sack from Baltimore’s Matt Judon in the second quarter of the Jets’ 24-16 victory Sunday.
It is the latest bout with bad luck for Smith, who lost his starting job to Fitzpatrick last summer when his jaw was broken by a punch from then-teammate IK Enemkpali. Until Sunday, Smith had appeared in just two mopup roles since his last start in the 2014 season finale.
Bryce Petty, a fourthrounder last year, and rookie Christian Hackenberg, a second-rounder, are also on the roster. Petty has been practicing for only two weeks after recovering from a preseason shoulder injury.
“Bryce has to get his reads and his timing and everything else back down,” Bowles said. “Fitz is our best option to go in and win this week.”
Lee penalized for racial slur
Jacksonville wide receiver Marqise Lee said he was flagged for using a racial slur in the Jaguars’ 33-16 loss to Oakland on Sunday.
Lee acknowledged that it was the reason for his unsportsmanlike conduct penalty late in the third quarter — a flag that seemingly started Jacksonville’s fourth-quarter meltdown in which defensive tackle Malik Jackson and cornerback Jalen Ramsey were ejected.
“I got flagged for saying the N-word,” said Lee, who is black. “It was back and forth. In the midst of the game, emotion is going from both teams. It just so happened the ref heard me, so therefore I got the flag. I’ve just got to fess up to it.”
Odds and ends
Chicago quarterback Jay Cutler will return from a thumb injury to play against Minnesota on Oct. 31. Cutler has been out since he suffered a thumb sprain in a Sept. 19 loss to Philadelphia. Brian Hoyer, Cutler’s backup, suffered a broken left arm in the Bears’ 26-10 loss to Green Bay last Thursday. Fox says Hoyer has had surgery. … Tennessee starting left guard Quinton Spain has a bruised bone in his right knee and will miss up to four weeks. Spain was carted off the field in the second quarter of a 34-26 loss to Indianapolis. Titans cornerback Perrish Cox is in the concussion protocol and likely will not be cleared to play Thursday night when Tennessee plays host to Jacksonville. … Arizona wide receiver Jaron Brown tore an anterior cruciate ligament in his knee and is out for the remainder of the season. Brown has 11 receptions for 187 yards and a touchdown this season and is one of the best players on the Cardinals’ special teams. … San Francisco coach Chip Kelly dismissed speculation that he could return to Oregon after the season if the Ducks fire Mark Helfrich. Oregon is 2-5 overall and 0-4 in the Pac-12 this season. “I’m the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers,” he said. “So, not looking at anything else.”