A 4TH & LONG
Be young QB’s last as a Jet
after relieving McCown in the third quarter of the Jets’ loss to the Broncos. “The tough part about being a backup: limited reps. Now we get the reps and hopefully fix the things that I’m feeling I need to fix.”
Petty must prove to the braintrust that he has a better handle on John Morton’s offense than he did this summer. He’s spent the better part of the year learning from McCown and quarterbacks coach Jeremy Bates, but the feeling on One Jets Drive is that he needs to have a better command of the playbook. We’ll see how much has sunk in when the 5-8 Jets travel to New Orleans.
Petty, who went 1-3 as a starter in Chan Gailey’s offense last year, showed promising signs this summer. He was brilliant in the third preseason game against the Giants (15 for 18, 250 yards, three TDs, perfect 158.3 passer rating) before suffering a MCL sprain in the waning minutes that kept him inactive for the season
Fopener. or all his toughness and grit, the football injury gods have intervened at inopportune times. Remember: Petty suffered an injury to his left shoulder trying to make a tackle after a fumble early in a Christmas Eve debacle in Foxborough last season.
His intangibles and physical skills, however, are undeniable.
“His energy is high,” wide receiver Jermaine Kearse said. “His presence in the huddle is there. He has the ability to make tough throws and be able to extend the play. I think that’s one thing that’s going to come in handy for us.”
Facing a seething Saints team with 10 days to prepare wouldn’t be easy for Petty, who went 2-for9 for 14 yards on Sunday. Although Petty maintained that he’s worried about whether this will be his final chance with the Jets, the reality is that he must impress or he won’t be back in 2018.
“I’m going to give my heart and soul and prepare for this week against New Orleans,” Petty said. “I’m going to go in there prepared and ready to lead this team.”
It’s his turn.