Brandon: Petty learning to fly
In a matter of months, Bryce Petty has gone from a player struggling to make the Jets’ 53man roster to their starting quarterback. It’s been quite the rise − aided, of course, by a miserable season from Ryan Fitzpatrick. But players in- side the Jets locker room, including Fitzpatrick himself, know Petty earned his job through hard work. Since coming in as a rookie fourthround pick in 2015, Petty has remolded his body. Brandon Marshall said Petty was “fat and overweight” last year, so much so that Fitzpatrick would poke fun at the youngster. But not anymore. “His body has changed. He’s ripped up. He has abs. And he’s focused,” Marshall said. “He goes from the weight room to breakfast to film, and he’s relentless about it.” Petty, who will start the Jets’ final four games this season, has a surprisingly wise and humble perspective on his NFL career.
After the Jets drafted Christian Hackenberg in the second round of this past spring’s draft, it appeared Petty would be the odd man out. The Jets had signed Fitzpatrick to a one-year deal to be their starter. The more-experienced Geno Smith would serve as the backup, and very few NFL teams even consider keeping four quarterbacks.
But with multiple strong performances in the preseason, Petty played his way onto the roster. Now he’ll have his shot to prove he can be a productive starter in this league.
“I’m not supposed to be here and I know that, so I don’t take this for granted,” Petty said. “I think every day I come in here it’s a blessing to be here.”
COLIN TO NY?
On Monday, reports surfaced that 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick had sold his house in California in favor of a condo in Manhattan. That prompted many to speculate about whether Kaepernick was planning to come to New York and play for the Jets next season.
Kaepernick, though, refuted those reports in a conference call Wednesday ahead of the Jets’ contest at the Niners this weekend. “I actually didn’t buy a condo in New York, so I don’t know where that report is coming from,” he said.
INJURY REPORT
Jets who did not practice include: S Antonio Allen (concussion), T Breno Giacomini (back, calf, shoulder), C Nick Mangold (ankle), WR Jalin Marshall (concussion), LB Lorenzo Mauldin (ankle), DT Steve McLendon (hamstring), RB Khiry Robinson (leg), DE Muhammad Wilkerson (ankle) and DE Leonard Williams (illness). S Calvin Pryor (concussion) and RB Matt Forte (knee, foot) were limited.
Mangold was in a walking boot and stood to the side during practice. The Jets signed Robinson on Wednesday to replace C.J. Spiller, who the team waived a day earlier. …Todd Bowles finally spoke with Fitzpatrick about his decision to start Petty for the final four games of this season. The coach said it was a “good talk.”