Gang needs Fitz to pick up the pieces
Todd Bowles has every reason to believe Ryan Fitzpatrick will rebound from his six-interception performance last week in Kansas City. “He can’t play any worse,” the Jets head coach said wryly on Friday. “And we can’t coach it any worse. So there’s nowhere to go but up. I’m sure he’ll tell you the same thing. And we’ve got all the confidence in the world in Ryan.”
It’s a statement that makes sense at face value, considering Fitzpatrick’s clunker against the Chiefs was the worst single showing by a quarterback since Pro Football Focus began grading player performances over a decade ago.
But Fitzpatrick will still have his work cut out for him this weekend against the Seahawks, who, behind cornerback Richard Sherman, boast one of the best defensive backfields in football.
Seattle is allowing 163 passing yards per game, which is second in the league behind the Texans. And the Seahawks are one of just two teams that haven’t allowed a passing touchdown this season. The other is 3-0 Philadelphia.
The key to a Fitzpatrick resurgence, according to Bowles, is avoiding turnovers.
“We’re going to take care of the football.
We don’t really worry about who we’re going against on Sunday,” Bowles said. “He understands that and we understand that as a team. So going forward, we’re going to make sure that doesn’t happen.”
INJURY REPORT
Jets left tackle Ryan Clady was limited in practice Friday because of a shoulder injury and is officially questionable for Sunday’s game against the Seahawks. Bowles, however, said Clady will play.
Linebacker Bruce Carter is questionable with an ankle injury. He was limited in practice Friday. Quarterback Bryce Petty did not practice with a right shoulder injury and is out for Sunday. Left guard James Carpenter was excused from practice “for personal reasons,” Bowles said.
TO PLAY OR NOT TO PLAY
The Jets signed two players to their 53-man roster this week — wide receiver/kick returner Jeremy Ross and tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins. Bowles said the team will decide this weekend if either one will be active Sunday against the Seahawks.
With kick and punt returner Jalin Marshall out because of a labrum injury, Ross has value as a kick returner. Ross was with the Jets during training camp and performed well, though he didn’t make the final roster. In addition to Ross, receiver Robby Anderson, running back Troymaine Pope and receiver Quincy Enunwa took return reps in practice Friday.
Whether or not Seferian-Jenkins plays Sunday will come down to how much of the Jets’ offense he has grasped. The former Tampa tight end was kicked out of a Bucs practice in early August because he reportedly “didn’t know what he was doing,” coach Dirk Koetter told the Tampa Bay Times.
The Bucs cut Seferian-Jenkins last Friday after he was arrested for his second DUI.
“Obviously he’s only practiced with us two days now. So that remains to be seen,” Bowles said when asked about Seferian-Jenkins’ mental capabilities. “But he’s been fine right now. And our due diligence tells us he can pick it up and learn, and we’ll go from there.”