Petty still learning to fly, but progressing

NEW ORLEANS — Bryce Petty’s final audition for the Jets included a little bit of good, bad and ugly in a 31-19 loss to the Saints Sunday that has the Jets circling the drain in the AFC East. Petty will get another crack next week against the Chargers to prove that he belongs on this rebuilding outfit in 2018, but he didn’t exactly bowl anyone over in his first start of the season.

“He was a little high on some balls and a little low on some others,” Todd Bowles said. “He tried to execute the game plan. I thought it was good experience for him.”

The third-year quarterback, starting for the injured Josh McCown, went 19 for 39 for 179 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. The Jets had a relatively conservative gameplan that didn’t exactly make great use of Petty’s strength: the deep ball. Bowles and Petty said the Saints’ coverages prevented the Jets from stretching the field, so it was a run-heavy plan with a bunch of underneath throws.

Petty, who made his fifth career start, said he wasn’t racked with nerves inside the Superdome.

“Naturally you are perfectionist,” Petty said. “So, I want to complete every ball. I want to make all the right reads, and obviously at the end of the day, win. When those things don’t happen, it’s easy to get down on yourself and start (picking at) things.”

Petty said he wasn’t happy with his footwork at times. His red-zone struggles proved to be a significant factor in the Jets’ seventh loss in nine games, too. The Jets managed only three points on three Saints’ turnovers.

“He just didn’t make any plays,” Bowles said of Petty’s issues inside the 20. “Plays we needed to make to win the game he didn’t make… but he’ll get better at that.”

It was baby steps for a young player trying to show the brain trust that he should stick around next season. Although the Jets will either sign a presumed starting quarterback in free agency or take one in the upcoming draft, Petty could be worthy of a roster spot in 2018 if he shows significant progress in the final weeks of the season.

“He was comfortable in the huddle,” left tackle Kelvin Beachum said. “He’s always been that way. He was confident when he came into the huddle. When adversity hit, he didn’t blink.”

Petty’s stat line was misleading. His first interception on a pass intended for Neal Sterling was an obvious defensive pass interference that wasn’t called. His second interception came on a desperation heave on the final play of the game.

“The more time I get out there,” Petty said. “The more times I see it, the better I am going to get.”

LEONARD’S EARLY EXIT

Leonard Williams didn’t return after suffering a concussion in the second half.

NO MO INFORMATION

Bowles didn’t disclose whether defensive lineman Muhammad Wilkerson, who was suspended for the game and didn’t travel with the team after being late for another team meeting last week, will practice with the team this week. The smart move at this point would be to deactivate Wilkerson for the final two games before cutting him.

“We’re dealing with that as an internal matter,” Bowles said. “I’ll let you know later.”

ONLY WAY TO GO IS UP

The Jets had 294 total yards one week after their embarrassing 100-yard output in Denver. John Morton’s unit rushed for 124 yards (4.4 ypc).