Petty was always the plan, MNF mess wasn’t

A DAY after one of the most embarrassing home defeats in franchise history, Jets head coach Todd Bowles attempted to clarify the specifics of his decision to start second-year quarterback Bryce Petty for the final four games of this season.

Bowles said he’s known for “two or three” weeks that Petty would start the last quarter of the campaign. Petty replaced Ryan Fitzpatrick for the second half of Monday night’s 41-10 loss to the Colts. It was the second time this season Bowles benched Fitzpatrick.

“We’re not in contention. We want to get him some experience. So we’re going to play him a little more,” Bowles said of Petty on a conference call Tuesday afternoon. “It’s trying to win, and it’s trying to see what I have at quarterback with Bryce.”

Penn State rookie Christian Hackenberg is on the Jets’ roster, but Fitzpatrick will nonetheless serve as backup for at least “the next couple weeks,” Bowles said.

Bowles said he doesn’t foresee Hackenberg playing this season “unless Bryce gets hurt.” Hackenberg has been limited to scout teams reps this year.

Bowles believes it’s “too early to tell” if Hackenberg will suit up on game day in any of the last four weeks. Hackenberg has been inactive for all 12 Jets games this season.

Bowles admitted Tuesday that he’s yet to speak to Fitzpatrick about the decision to start Petty.

Fitzpatrick was informed of the development by offensive coaches Monday night after the game. Bowles thinks he “probably could have” handled the situation better.

Bowles also addressed his job security during the conference call. It didn’t appear as though the coach was in jeopardy of being fired until his team’s lifeless loss to the Colts in primetime.

Bowles said he had a conversation with Jets owner Woody Johnson on Tuesday. “We talk every week like we always do,” Bowles said of the discussion.

MANGOLD MAY BE OUT: Bowles said “it’s possible” center Nick Mangold could be shut down for the remainder of the season. Mangold aggravated an ankle injury in Monday night’s loss. . . . The Jets waived RB C.J. Spiller and WR/KR Jeremy Ross on Tuesday. . . .49ers QB Colin Kaepernick, who was benched in the fourth quarter of a loss to the Bears on Sunday, will start this weekend against the Jets in California.