Geno Smith’s recovery is coming along nicely. The New York Jets quarterback wore a helmet for the first time at practice on Monday morning as the team prepares for its Week 1 contest against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, Sept. 13.
Seth Walder of the New York Daily News noted Smith did some light throwing with the other quarterbacks Monday morning with the helmet on, which Rich Cimini of ESPN noted was a first since the injury.
Here is a short video of Smith in action Monday at team facilities.
Remember when Geno Smith told ya'll he'd be back… #jets pic.twitter.com/iIiWRgnIc3
— Kimberley A. Martin (@ByKimberleyA) September 7, 2015
The embattled quarterback’s recovery is progressing swiftly. He won’t be placed on the short-term IR and Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News reported Smith could be ready to play in a game much sooner than originally expected.
With Matt Flynn & Josh Johnson both gone, there's a growing sense Geno Smith might be healthy & ready to go sooner than initially expected
— Manish Mehta (@MMehtaSports) September 5, 2015
Whether or not he is in a position to start for the Jets when he does return remains a mystery. Ryan Fitzpatrick is the starter right now, and Rich Cimini of ESPN believes it’s his job to lose from this point forward.
“Make no mistake, this is Ryan Fitzpatrick’s job to lose,” Cimini wrote. “If the Jets are, say, 3-1 at the bye week, why would Todd Bowles go back to Geno Smith? He’d have a mutiny in the locker room. The ball belongs to Fitzpatrick, and I say keep him in as long as he’s a solid game manager.”
Still, there is no guarantee Fitzpatrick will play well enough to keep the job. Throughout his career the veteran has seen his fair share of ups and downs. He has played well this preseason, but should he falter Smith will certainly get another chance to prove himself as a worthy starter for New York this year.
With that in mind, Smith’s faster-than-expected recovery can only be viewed as a good thing for the Jets.