Bryce not right
hurts shoulder vs. eAgles, will undergo tests
PHILADELPHIA — Bryan Braman may have solved the Jets’ quarterback dilemma.
The Eagles defensive end delivered a crushing hit to Jets third-team quarterback Bryce Petty in the first quarter of Thursday night’s preseason finale. The blow, which knocked Petty out of the game with a right shoulder injury, could give general manager Mike Maccagnan an escape route from keeping four quarterbacks on the roster. The Jets can now place Petty on injured reserve, possibly short-term, and keep three quarterbacks on their active roster.
The hit came after Petty delivered a 44yard touchdown pass to Robby Ander- son, a pretty throw that was the latest moment in a strong preseason for the second-year quarterback. He stayed in for the unsuccessful two-point conversion attempt and then exited the game, replaced by rookie Christian Hackenberg. Petty finished 4 of 6 for 87 yards and the touchdown.
Jets coach Todd Bowles said Petty had a “sore shoulder” and would undergo more tests Friday.
When asked if he thought it was serious, Petty, who had his right arm in a sling and shoulder wrapped in ice, said: “I don’t think so. I think everything’s cool.”
The Jets lost, 14-6, but the scoreboard had little meaning in this one. It was all about figuring out who to cut.
Teams must cut their rosters from 75 to 53 players by 4 p.m. Saturday. The biggest question mark surrounding the Jets the entire preseason has been how many quarterbacks they would keep. The spots of starter Ryan Fitzpatrick and Hackenberg, a second-round pick this spring, are assured. But Petty and No. 2 Geno Smith have been fighting for their jobs.
Maccagnan and coach Todd Bowles have been open to the possibility of keeping four quarterbacks since the draft, but it would be an unorthodox move. No team has done it since the 2013 Redskins. Many teams now keep just two quarterbacks to maximize roster spots.
The Jets, however, are in a unique situation with Fitzpatrick the short-term answer at the position, but at 33 years old is a year-to-year decision for the team. Smith likely will leave as a free agent this winter and there has been speculation about the Jets cutting or trading him, but the team views him as the best backup option. Petty has made major strides this summer, but it would be risky to have him as the No. 2 quarterback with his lack of experience. Hackenberg is far from being ready to play.
Now, that worry may be over. If the Jets place Petty on IR, he won’t count toward the 53 players on the roster. They then could activate him in six weeks, as their short-term IR player, if he is healthy and they have the room on the roster. Teams
no longer have to designate which player is going to be their short-term IR selection ahead of time.
With the injury to Petty, Hackenberg probably played more than the Jets planned. It was the second time he played after seeing time in the fourth quarter last week against the Giants. In his first extended action, Hackenberg was shaky. He went 11 of 31 for 54 yards and threw an interception that was returned 90 yards by Ed Reynolds for a touchdown. It was a terrible decision by Hackenberg, who was wrapped up by Braman when he let the ball go. His quarterback rating was 30.7 and he averaged an unreal 1.7 yards per completion.
“I thought it was just a great learning experience,” Hackenberg said. “To be able to get that many live reps, I think it was awesome and something I’ll look back on years down the road and it being very valuable to me [so] young in my career.”
Bowles said there are about five or six roster spots the Jets must decide on. Beyond quarterbacks, the other most interesting roster decisions are at wide receiver and tight end. The Jets have three rookie receivers that all have had good moments. Anderson added to his case Thursday with the 44-yard touchdown. During the CBS broadcast, Maccagnan said that Anderson has “probably” played his way into contention for a roster spot. Jalin Marshall had one catch for 17 yards and Charone Peake had one catch for no yards.