JETS PLAY KID GAMES

TO SAY THE JETS are handling their quarterback “competition” in a peculiar manner is a bit of an understatement.

Josh McCown, the veteran who will almost assuredly start Week 1 against the Bills, was running wind sprints on the sidelines during the last period of practice instead of spending time on the field with the first team, receiving only a handful of reps in the process.

But Todd Bowles insisted his divvying up of practice reps Tuesday in Florham Park was strictly about giving younger quarterbacks Christian Hackenberg and Bryce Petty an opportunity.

“Just evening the reps out. (McCown) got a lot of reps early, so the other guys are getting a lot of reps now,” “McCown knows what he’s doing, he can play, so we’re trying to give the other guys some experience and some reps.”

But what gives with the sprints near the end of practice?

“He likes to keep in shape,” Bowles said. “It’s a good thing.”

The Jets head coach, of course, still refused to commit to McCown. Although he was questioned over the reasoning for giving him so few opportunities during Tuesday’s practice, Bowles explained that more reps would only be beneficial to the 38-year-old “if he’s the starting quarterback,” and he said he hasn’t even made up his mind who will be Saturday’s starter against the Giants.

In the meantime, it seems Hackenberg and Petty will get a chance to learn the offense as the Jets hope to hand the reigns over to one of them — namely Hackenberg — later in the regular season.

Both looked solid Tuesday. Hackenberg overthrew a couple of balls, but he completed a good percentage of his passes and connected on some deep throws, keeping the football out of the hands of the defense.

Petty also wasn’t bad outside of a lone interception and received the majority of the first team reps Tuesday, albeit against the scout team defense.

Running back Matt Forte, who returned to practice for the first time since July 31, is confident in his offense’s capability, regardless of who is under center.

“I’ve seen every quarterback do a lot of good things in games,” Forte said. “It’s not up to me to judge their strengths. I’m just playing alongside them.”

And with the regular season quickly approaching, opportunities like Tuesday’s practice are crucial developmental steps for both Hackenberg and Petty. Although how they perform likely won’t impact who is starting Week 1, the focus is all about preparing for the future.