Bowles: Petty swims with Fishes

The Jets trimmed their quarterback total from five to four Thursday when they waived former fourthround pick Bryce Petty. Todd Bowles said Petty’s ouster came down to numbers. “Obviously too many quarterbacks right now,” Bowles said Friday afternoon, after the Jets opened rookie minicamp in Florham Park.

Bowles hoped Petty would find a new home. And that wish came to fruition about an hour after the Jets coach finished his press conference, when the Daily News confirmed that Petty had been claimed by the division-rival Dolphins.

Even with Petty gone, the Jets still have a crowded quarterback room. Former second-round pick Christian Hackenberg remains on the roster, along with Josh McCown, Teddy Bridgewater and third overall pick Sam Darnold, who threw his first passes in a Jets uniform Friday.

Bowles didn’t divulge much when asked if he expects to carry four quarterbacks into training camp, which he did in 2016 with Geno Smith, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Petty and Hackenberg.

“We’ll see how it goes,” Bowles said. “Obviously we know we have of them. We’ve got to make some decisions and we’ll make them down the line.”

Only keeping two quarterbacks also remains an option, according to Bowles.

HERNDON UPDATE

Fourth-round pick Chris Herndon, who tore his MCL in November while playing for Miami, participated in a good portion of practice. The tight end caught passes in individual drills and also worked with Darnold in the offensive playbook installs, during which there were no defenders. But he sat out 11-on-11s and 7-on-7s.

“It will be week by week,” Bowles said. “We’ll take it slow with him. We’re trying to get him ready for training camp. If he’s ready earlier, then he’ll play earlier.”

BOWLES ON SAFETY

Bowles attended the NFL safety meetings held this week at the league offices and offered his perspective on the discussions. Kickoffs were a major point of debate. In March, the NFL announced a rule change that prevents players from lowering their heads to initiate contact.

“The biggest thing is the crown of the helmet and using the helmet as a weapon and everybody getting their heads up,” Bowles said. “Obviously spearing people and using your head as a weapon is a big detriment to the league, and we got to get better from that standpoint. I understand the kickoff and trying to get the collision out of it, and we’ll come up with some rules and some thing to try to get that out the game to make it safer.”