The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Petty will get chance after Jets’ woeful loss
Bowles: Decision to start young QB made weeks ago.
Jets coach Todd Bowles said he decided two or three weeks ago to play Bryce Petty at quarterback for New York’s final four games to get an extended look at the second-year player.
Bowles announced after the Jets’ 41-10 loss to the Indianapolis Colts on Monday night that Petty would start the rest of the season, sending Ryan Fitzpatrick to the sideline.
The coach said Tuesday during a conference call Fitzpatrick will serve as Petty’s backup for at least the next few weeks. He added that rookie Christian Hackenberg, a second-round pick, likely will not see any game action this season, barring an injury to Petty.
Bowles acknowledged he never directly told Fitzpatrick of the decision after he “got tied up with a few things.”
The two will talk today, Bowles said, adding that he could have handled it better.
Meantime, the Jets waived running back/kick returner C.J. Spiller and wide receiver/ kick returner Jeremy Ross.
Broncos: Coach Gary Kubiak is optimistic quarterback Trevor Siemian can return to the lineup this weekend and trusts that rookie Paxton Lynch has a bright future despite his shaky start Sunday at Jacksonville. Lynch completed just a dozen passes — only two after halftime — for 104 yards and converted just one of 13 first downs. But he didn’t turn the ball over like he had in his first start against Atlanta in Week 5, when he threw an interception and fumbled twice.
“He’s still a young, raw player,” Kubiak said of Lynch. “He’ll learn a lot from this game. He missed two big plays in the game off of bootlegs that could have been touchdowns for us. But he’ll learn from that and be better because of it.”
Siemian sat out Sunday with a left mid-foot sprain he suffered in overtime of Denver’s loss to Kansas City a week earlier. He spent a few days last week in a walking boot but was out of it by the weekend and showed no noticeable limp in the locker room Monday.
Vikings: Mike Zimmer was back at practice Tuesday, not quite a week after surgery to repair a detached retina. Except for the white patch that was taped over his right eye, the players didn’t see any difference in their hard-driving coach.
“He still can see everything, with one patch over his eye. He still knows,” cornerback Captain Munnerlyn said. “You made a mistake, he’s still seen it.”
Zimmer roamed the indoor field and instructed players as usual during the portion of the workout that was open to the media. The 60-year-old had to stay home from the game against Dallas last Thursday because of the emergency operation the night before, one of multiple eye procedures he’s had over the past six weeks.
Zimmer is expected to travel with the team for the game Sunday at Jacksonville.
Colts: Linebacker D’Qwell Jackson, the team’s leading tackler, has been suspended for four games for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing substances. Jackson will be eligible to return to the active roster Jan. 2, a day after the team’s regular-season finale against Jacksonville.
The Colts (6-6) are tied for first place in the AFC South with Houston and Tennessee. Jackson also will miss games against Tennessee, Minnesota and Oakland. He has 78 tackles and a sack this season.
49ers: Colin Kaepernick is keeping his starting job after getting benched during one of the worst performances of his career. Niners offensive coordinator Curtis Modkins said Tuesday the embattled quarterback will start when San Francisco hosts the Jets on Sunday.
Chiefs: Coach Andy Reid indicated that No. 1 wide receiver Jeremy Maclin, who has missed the past four games with a lingering groin injury, is looking more likely to play against the Raiders on Thursday night. Maclin was a limited participant in practice all of last week but did not play against the Falcons on Sunday.
Lions: Signed running back Joique Bell, bringing the Michigan native back for another stint with the franchise. Bell played 60 games for the Lions from 2012-15. He rushed for 860 yards and seven touchdowns during the 2014 season.
Buccaneers: Bolstered their injury-depleted receiving group by promoting Josh Huff from the practice squad and placing Cecil Shorts III on injured reserve. Huff, 25, is getting a second chance in the NFL after being released by the Eagles in the aftermath of the third-year pro’s arrest on gun and drug charges.