WON'T BACK DOWN
Jets stand their ground with Petty instead of Hackenberg
Josh McCown’s season-ending injury has done nothing to change the Jets’ plans for second-year quarterback Christian Hackenberg. He remains chained to the bench.
With McCown done for the year with a broken left hand, Bryce Petty will start Sunday against the Saints. Coach Todd Bowles was asked Wednesday if there is any plan to get Hackenberg some action in one of the Jets’ final three games.
“Not right now,” Bowles said. “We have people at every position that want to play. We’re not jumping people over people just to play considering anything. Bryce is our starter.”
Hackenberg has not played a snap in his two years with the Jets. The team selected him in the second round of the 2016 draft out of Penn State with the 51st pick overall. They then put him in bubble wrap and have let him sit and watch for two years. He will serve as Petty’s backup on Sunday, marking just the third game he will be in uniform for. He has been inactive in every other game.
Hackenberg leaned on clichés Wednesday when asked about his situation.
“I just try to continue to approach things the way I’ve been approaching them, keep having fun with it, keep learning, keep growing, keep trying to master the game plan each week,” Hackenberg said. “For me, I don’t think anything changed.” Would he consider it a disappointment if he does not see the field for a second straight season?
“I’m not a negative person,” Hackenberg said. “I think if you dwell on that, it’s only going to create more confusion and stuff that you don’t need to fill your brain space with.”
As for Petty, he slid into the starter’s role at practice Wednesday. It was the first time since training camp that he worked with the starters. He has spent the season quarterbacking the scout team. Petty, in his third season, will make his fifth career start on Sunday in New Orleans.
“The more you’re out there, the better it gets, the easier it gets,” Petty said. “That’s what I’ve been happy about really in my progress the last couple of years. It’s what you want, trending upward.”
Petty said he received a text message from former Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick wishing him luck, and McCown, who had surgery Tuesday, has given him advice.
“Just to be me,” Petty said of McCown’s message. “It’s not about trying to replace Josh or be Josh. It’s to be Bryce and find little successes whether that’s how I approach the game. In the game, I think just smiling is important, understanding it’s a blessing to be here.”
Bowles said Petty has grown mentally as a quarterback from being around McCown. But no one will know how much he has progressed until he plays.
“He’s learned from Josh,” Bowles said. “He was sitting on the bench watching things to do and what not to do. But you can’t take the test until you’re out there.”
Petty completed just 2-of-9 passes for 14 yards in relief of McCown on Sunday against the Broncos. He said he struggled with his timing. That is something he and the Jets wide receivers are spending extra time working on this week.
“Losing Josh definitely sucks, but it’s the next man up,” receiver Jermaine Kearse said. “We all have to do our own job. I don’t think we can come into this game worrying about someone else. I think that’s when you kind of slip up. I trust Bryce. I trust that he’s preparing. I trust that he comes in here trying to find ways to get better. I trust that he’s going to compete.”