Jets sign veteran QB Matt Flynn

With starting quarterback Geno Smith out for 6-10 weeks after having his jaw broken by a teammate, the Jets have decided to sign veteran Matt Flynn, the team announced on Wednesday.

Flynn, who's spent the majority of his seven-year NFL career in Green Bay but has also made stops in Oakland, Seattle and Buffalo, returned to the Packers in 2013 and remained with them through the 2014 season before joining the Patriots in June. He was released last week and replaced in New England by Ryan Lindley.

Despite serving as Aaron Rodgers's backup for most of his Packers career, Flynn still managed to amass 219 completions for 2,541 yards and 17 touchdowns during his time in Green Bay. His career completion average is 61.3 percent and his quarterback rating is 85.9.

In Week 17 of the 2011 season, Flynn started for the Packers in the place of Rodgers, who was being rested for the playoffs. Flynn set a team record with six touchdown passes, racking up 480 yards passing in his only start of the year. He parlayed that success into a three-year, $20.5 million deal with the Seattle Seahawks, but never started for the team after being beat out in training camp by then-rookie Russell Wilson.

Former Arizona Cardinals coordinator Todd Bowles is starting his first season as head coach in New York and Flynn will provide him some depth at the quarterback position. It has yet to be announced if Smith will be placed on the short-term injured reserve list, but Flynn will provide the Jets with a competent backup QB should the team decide to do so. For now the Jets have turned over starting duties to Ryan Fitzpatrick, an 11-year veteran on his fourth team in four years.