The New York Jets benched starting quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick during their humiliating 41-10 loss to the Indianapolis Colts on Monday night. This came after Fitzpatrick completed just 5-of-12 passes for 81 yards in the game. It’s the second time on the season that the Jets have benched their high-priced veteran signal caller.
Fitzpatrick was replaced under center by second-year player Bryce Petty, who proceeded to lead the Jets to their only touchdown of the game.
According to Jets head coach Todd Bowles none of this really mattered. Even prior to Fitzpatrick getting the start Monday night, the plan has been all along to start Petty for the final four games of the season.
Bowles: Bryce Petty will start the final 4 games at QB. That was the plan entering today and is not a result of tonight's game.
— New York Jets (@nyjets) December 6, 2016
If this doesn’t make any sense to you, join the club. If the plan has been to start Petty for the final quarter of the season, why not actually put him out there Monday night against a bad Colts defense?
The logic is lost on us here as well.
As it is, the next four weeks will act as an audition of sorts for Petty. Both Fitzpatrick and Geno Smith are slated to become free agents in the offseason. Neither one is expected to be back. That leaves Petty and rookie Christian Hackenberg as the only two internal options to be the team’s starter next season.
At 3-9 on the season, it make sense that the Jets would want to give a young quarterback the opportunity to prove his worth. We’re just not too sure what the other logic is behind Bowles’ post-game quotes.