Hackenberg to sit in likely Fitz finale
PENDING AN unexpected turn of events, Jets rookie Christian Hackenberg will watch from the sideline this weekend at MetLife Stadium and complete his redshirt season as originally planned.
It’s an unusual situation for a quarterback selected in the second round. Despite season-ending injuries to Geno Smith (ACL) and Bryce Petty (torn labrum), Hackenberg can’t get on the field. Todd Bowles announced Tuesday that 34-year-old Ryan Fitzpatrick will start under center for Gang Green’s season finale against the Bills on Sunday. And Hackenberg has no choice but to live with his coach’s choice.
“Coaches understand that all of us are pros and we want to compete and that’s our job. But ultimately, that’s not my decision,” Hackenberg said Wednesday in the Jets locker room, his first comments since Bowles’ announcement. “My job is to come in and be the best player, be the best teammate that I can be.”
Hackenberg did a good job of deflecting questions about whether he’s feeling any frustration or disappointment. Rookie quarterbacks around the league — most notably Dak Prescott in Dallas — have been granted opportunities to showcase their talents this season. Hackenberg, meanwhile, hasn’t been active for a single regular-season game. He’ll be active Sunday, which seems like a small consolation. But he said Wednesday coaches have been up front with him about the their intentions to sit him for the duration of 2016.
“That was pretty much the understanding,” Hackenberg said. “That’s been communicated.”
So he wasn’t surprised at Bowles’ decision to turn back to Fitzpatrick as the starter yet again. “That’s out of my realm. What I have control over is coming in and preparing and learning and practicing and doing everything right,” Hackenberg said. “That was kind of the focus for me the whole year — this week, last week. So that really hasn’t changed.”
Hackenberg will serve as the backup Sunday against Buffalo, meaning he could be called upon if Fitzpatrick goes down with an injury. Bowles also said Hackenberg could enter the contest “if the game gets out of hand.”
Hackenberg believes he’s ready for game action — even if Bowles’ decision indicates the coaching staff and front office think otherwise. Hackenberg has received firstteam reps this week for the first time all season, which he says has been “awesome.” “I’ve had plenty of time to learn. So I feel like I have a good grasp of the offense,” Hackenberg said. “This week’s been great, getting reps. So I think I’m ready whenever I need to be called, and if that happens, I know that I’ve prepared to the best of my ability.”
For Fitzpatrick, Sunday will probably mark his final appearance in a Jets uniform. He signed a one-year deal in the offseason, and after an interception-plagued campaign, the journeyman almost certainly won’t be back with Gang Green next season.
“There’s probably an obvious reality of the way the year is going to come to a close for me,” Fitzpatrick said Wednesday.
Nonetheless, he’ll have another shot to play in front of the Jets faithful, though it should be another small crowd in East Rutherford for a game between two teams far from playoff contention. Perhaps more fans would be willing to attend if they were guaranteed a glimpse at Hackenberg. But the Jets are sticking with their plan, and Hackenberg will likely have to wait until 2017 to get a taste of regular-season NFL action.
“The redshirt year has been the plan from Day 1,” Hackenberg said. “Being able to do what you had to do each day to learn and grow and get comfortable and understand how things works, I think that I did that. And that felt pretty good. So I don’t think I have any regrets looking back.”