Hackenberg gets nod as backup plan

ORCHARD PARK — Christian Hackenberg was the Jets’ backup quarterback Sunday by default. Hackenberg received the nod as the No. 2 signal-caller on the depth chart behind Josh McCown for Gang Green’s 21-12 seasonopening loss to the Bills at New Era Stadium. But that was only because Bryce Petty is not fully healthy, according to a source. Petty was inactive Sunday. The Jets’ preference was to have Petty back up McCown, if he was healthy.

Petty suffered a Grade 1 MCL sprain in the fourth quarter of the third preseason game and didn’t play in the final exhibition contest. Petty practiced fully this past week and wasn’t included in the injury report. But Todd Bowles is taking a conservative approach with the 26-year-old QB. “That’s his decision,” Petty said of Bowles in the locker room after the loss. “Just rock n’ roll with what he says.”

Petty warmed up with a brace on his left knee Sunday morning. According to a source, Petty believes he could have played Sunday; however, the Jets wanted to protect him from further injuring the knee. Bowles was coy about the situation in his postgame news conference.

“That was a coach’s decision,” Bowles said of Hackenberg serving as the backup.

When asked if the decision had anything to do with Petty’s health, Bowles said, “Bryce had a full week of practice.”

Bowles said his backup QB “could change” moving forward. The Jets face the Raiders next weekend in Oakland.

KERLEY SITS OUT

The other inactive Jets for Week 1 were WR Jeremy Kerley, CB Derrick Jones, S Rontez Miles, TE Jordan Leggett, G Dakota Dozier and TE Neal Sterling. Miles was out with an eye injury, and Leggett is dealing with a knee injury. The Jets signed Kerley last week. Bowles said Kerley did not have enough knowledge of the offense to play in Sunday’s loss.

NO RUSH JOB

Offensive coordinator John Morton and the rest of the Jets coaching staff made it clear this summer that they planned to split the running back workload between Matt Forte and Bilal Powell. But on Sunday, Powell didn’t get his first touch until 3:55 remained in the first half. “It’s just the production of plays that we had,” Bowles said.

Powell finished with seven carries and Forte had six. The Jets rushed just five times in the opening two quarters, compared to 15 passing attempts from McCown. “It’s a game plan, some of the things we tried to exploit and attack,” Bowles said of the pass-heavy play-calling. “And it didn’t work out for us as well.” ... WR Jermaine Kearse, who joined the Jets two weeks ago in the Sheldon Richardson trade, was one of the few bright spots on Sunday. Kearse already appears to have developed good chemistry with McCown. He caught seven passes on nine targets for 59 yards . ... LB Bruce Carter (ankle) and TE Eric Tomlinson (elbow) both left Sunday’s game. — With Manish Mehta