Petty doesn’t feel like forgotten man

Bryce Petty is in the middle of a three-way quarterback competition that many believe is truly just a two-man race.

And, out.

“I mean, it’s OTAs,” Petty said Tuesday after the New York Jets’ fourth practice of organized team activities. “How do you have an underdog?”

Well, there’s Josh McCown, the veteran mentor who appears to be the frontrunner to start in the season opener at Buffalo on Sept. 10.

There’s also Christian Hackenberg, the secondround draft pick from a year ago who has never played in a regular-season game and may or may not be the future he’s the odd-man of the franchise.

Then, there’s Petty, who barely made the roster last year and could face a similar uncertainty this summer.

“I don’t feel like No. 3,” Petty said of the Jets’ quarterback depth chart. “I don’t think Hack feels like he’s No. 3. I don’t think Josh feels like he’s No. 3, or any of the above.”

The reality, however, is that it would be a surprise if Petty wins the job.

“I don’t read headlines,” Petty said. “I don’t do things like that. I’m just focused on coming in here and being better every day.”

Petty, a fourth-round pick out of Baylor in 2015, played in six games last season and started four. He hardly solidified himself as part of the Jets’ future plans while throwing three touchdown passes and seven interceptions with a 60.0 quarterback rating.

Still, he would have finished as the starter in place of Ryan Fitzpatrick if an injury to his left (nonthrowing) shoulder hadn’t ended his season before the finale.

“I have the confidence now that, ‘Hey, I can play this game,”’ Petty said. “I think that’s a big thing. ... I think just kind of going through that process, sometimes you kind of make it bigger than it is. Some guys need experience to build that confidence. I think that’s kind of what I needed to see that, ‘Hey, I can see the rush, I can see the defense, I can make throws, I can throw touchdowns,’ and things like that.

“That’s part of growing up and maturing, and maturing in this league, as well.”