MADE 2 ORDER
Geno looks like he has locked up backup spot
Geno Smith won’t have to worry about getting booed this week.
Jets coach Todd Bowles said Smith will not play Thursday night int hep reseason finale against the Eagles. The Jets will go with Bryce Petty and rookie Christian Hack en berg. Starter Ryan Fitzpatrick also will get the night off.
The decision could be an indication Smith has secured the No. 2 quarterback job after getting pushed by Petty this summer. Smith has not been overly impressive, but he gives the Jets an experienced backup, having played 31 games in his career.
“We know what Geno is,” Bowles said.
There remains a possi - bility the Jets could trade Smith. The Vikings became the latest team in search of a quarterback Tuesday when Teddy Bridgewater exited practice with a dislocated knee and torn ACL.
It is hard to imagine a team surrendering much in a trade for Smith, who is 11-18 as an NFL starter.
It appears more and more likely the Jets will enter the season with four quarterback son their roster, an unorthodox move. Bowles was asked if he is leaning that way.
“I wasn’t leaning toward letting all four go at the start. I said there was a possibility we’d keep them,” Bowles said. “All four are good football players. We can keep all four. It ’s just a matter of battling with the other positions. That’s still up for grabs. We’re going to have to wait until after this game to see how that plays out.”
Smith went 17-for-32 for 140 yards, a touchdown and an interception in the preseason. He was booed at both home games, showing what the fan base thinks of him.
Petty showed flashes against the Jaguars and Redskins but struggled last week against the Giants. It would be risky to go with Petty as the backup considering he never has played in a regular-season game and had so much to learn coming out of Baylor. The Jets could try placing Petty on the practice squad, but that would require ex posing him to waivers, where he could get claimed by another team.
Bowles said he is not sure how much Petty and Hackenberg will play Thursday. He said he would like to have an even distribution of passing for both of them.
“I ’d like to see more of the other two guys, so playing Geno would hinder that chance ,” Bowl es said .“I wanted to see the other two guys play a full amount of time, so this would be the perfect opportunity to do it.”
Hack en berg saw his first action of the preseason last week against the Giants. He led a touchdown drive on his first series but later threw an interception.
“It will be his second time playing, [I’d like to see him] just get some comfort level and command the offense and make less mistakes than he made the week before,” Bowles said.
Hackenberg’s roster spot is assured, but this could be the last time he plays until next year if everything goes according to plan for the Jets.
“I really don’t think you can look at it t hat way,” Hackenberg said. “Everyone thinks it’s cliché and everyone thinks it’s this billboard statement but it’s very, very true — you look at the situation in Dallas right now — you’re two snaps, three snaps away from playing. For me, whatever happens, happens and it’s out of my control, but I still need to stay in that mindset and that mind frame where I’m preparing the best I can each week.”