New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith is "unlikely" to be ready to start in Week 1, according to Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News. Smith, a rookie, is locked in a battle for the starting job with incumbent Mark Sanchez, who has struggled in recent seasons.
Geno Smith ‘unlikely’ to start for Jets in Week 1, per reports
Geno Smith is “unlikely” to be the Week 1 starter for the New York Jets, according to one report.
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Mehta does go on to say that Sanchez is the favorite to be the starter “entering the season,” but hints that Smith could end up starting later on either way. The scenarios in which Smith starts are pretty easy to figure: either Sanchez is struggling big-time or the Jets are already eliminated from playoff contention.
It stands to reason that, even if Sanchez is playing well but the Jets aren’t competing for a spot in the playoffs, the Jets would go with Smith as a play for the future. He’s younger and he seems to have more upside, and the team is likely banking on him taking over sooner rather than later.
But Smith is raw, and Sanchez winning despite his poor stats last season isn’t a far-fetched scenario at all. Then again, it’s hard to throw your lot in with a completion percentage of just 54.3 and five more interceptions than touchdowns. New York has been working with Sanchez to minimize his mistakes this offseason, and it will likely be the biggest determining factor in the competition, which should extend into the preseason.
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