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Bryce Petty pushing Geno Smith for Jets’ No. 2 QB job

After holding out hope that he might be the New York Jets’ starting quarterback this year, Geno Smith is now being challenged by Bryce Petty for the No. 2 job.

During Ryan Fitzpatrick’s contract dispute with the Jets, Smith headlined a small group of people (that included Jets legend Joe Namath) which hoped the Harvard grad would not start behind center this season.

Obviously that did not happen, and for the second year in a row the West Virginia product watched Fitzpatrick take the starting job from him. But at least he could take solace in the fact that he was the undisputed No. 2 quarterback. Especially considering word coming out this offseason about Petty was that he was struggling mightily.

Head coach Todd Bowles confirmed this after the first preseason game, unequivocally stating that Smith wasn’t being challenged by Petty for the No. 2 job.

“Geno is the No. 2 right now,” Bowles said, per NFL.com. “We’re not making a competition after one preseason game.”

My, how things have changed in a short amount of time.

Smith was atrocious on Friday night leading New York’s second-string offense. He completed just six-of-14 passes for 47 yards with no touchdowns and an interception.

This preseason he’s completed 14-of-27 passes (51.9 percent) for 126 yards (4.7 yards per attempt) with one touchdown and one interception.

Smith has also displayed his signature immaturity, refusing to speak with the New York Press after articles were written about the one-year anniversary of his broken jaw, courtesy of IK Enemkpali.

Meanwhile, Petty has quietly gone about his business, showing more poise, accuracy and leadership than Smith.

After a less than stellar effort in his first game, Petty received extended time on Friday. He completed 16-of-26 passes (61.5 percent) for 242 yards (9.3 yards per attempt) with two touchdowns and no interceptions.

Not surprisingly, during Bowles’ post-game interviews, he changed his tune about the No. 2 quarterback job but did attempt to make it sound like he was not.

“I didn’t say there wasn’t any competition,” Bowles told reporters, via Rich Cimini of ESPN. “I said, ‘Right now, Geno is 2 and Bryce is 3.'”

Right. Except we all know what he said last week, that the Jets weren’t “making a competition after one preseason game.”

When asked if Petty is pushing Smith for the No. 2 job, Bowles confirmed it was a possibility.

“Anybody can push anybody for any job,” he said. “We’ll look at the film and we’ll evaluate it. It’s not just throws you have to look at. You have to look at the body of work and everything that happened in the game.”

Translation: Petty can win the job.

Smith appears to be losing it, at the very least.

Regardless of who wins the backup quarterback job this summer, the Jets better hope Fitzpatrick stays healthy this year. Neither Petty nor Smith will give New York a good chance to win games during the fall.

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