Josh McCown out for the rest of the season with broken hand

Quarterback Josh McCown will be out for the rest of the season after breaking his hand in Jets vs. Broncos on Sunday, the team announced Monday. The injury will require surgery.

The Jets officially placed the quarterback on injured reserve on Tuesday.

McCown was taken to the locker room in the third quarter. The team initially announced that he is questionable to return, but quickly downgraded McCown to out for the remainder of the game and announced after that he suffered a broken hand in the contest.

Bryce Petty took over for the Jets. He went 2-of-9 for 14 yards. Now that McCown is out, head coach Todd Bowles said that Petty will start.

McCown got emotional after the game while discussing the injury and the possibility of missing time.

“It’s been the best because of the guys,” McCown said. “Not numbers. It’s been the best because of the group of men in the locker room.”

McCown took four sacks from the Broncos before leaving the game. The injury happened when McCown took a helmet to his hand and wrist, according to ESPN’s Rich Cimini.

He was injured in the second quarter after he scrambled eight yards on third-and-4 for a first down. Petty came in for him briefly. McCown was able to return after just two plays, and he promptly threw an interception.

McCown has never played a full 16-game season in his entire career. But he has yet to miss a game for the Jets this season. He completed a career high 67.8 percent of his passes for 2,880 yards, 18 touchdowns, and eight picks entering Sunday’s game.

The Jets couldn’t get much done with McCown in the game. He finished with 46 yards and one interception. New York trailed the Broncos 20-0 when McCown left the game and lost 23-0.