New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith is back in the lineup for the New York Jets ahead of schedule and is active on Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles, although he will remain the backup for Ryan Fitzpatrick.
Geno Smith active for 1st time since sucker punch
Smith was expected to miss at least four weeks, but is active and available against the Eagles on Sunday.
John Munson/NJ Advance Media for NJ.com-USA TODAY Sports
Both Smith and rookie quarterback Bryce Petty will be active and available in Week 3, although it's unclear which would come in if a backup is needed. Smith has 29 starts under his belt and entered the offseason as the starter for the Jets, but missed significant time after suffering a broken jaw and is currently listed as the third-string quarterback behind Petty on the team's depth chart.
Smith, 24, suffered a broken jaw when he was punched by linebacker IK Enemkpali in a locker room dispute in August. The announced timetable for his recovery was 6-10 weeks, but Jets head coach Todd Bowles insisted as late as early September that Smith would miss at least four weeks while he recovered.
After a 2-0 start, Bowles made it clear that Smith wouldn’t be gifted his starting role back upon his return and the team will keep Fitzpatrick under center. Through two games, the veteran journeyman has 423 passing yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions.
Smith has an 11-18 record as the starter for the Jets with 25 touchdowns and 34 interceptions. His best-ever game was his last, when Smith threw for 358 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions against the Miami Dolphins in Week 17 of the 2014 season.
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