FLORHAM PARK -- Jets coach Todd Bowles made it clear Tuesday that even when quarterback Geno Smith returned from a broken jaw, Ryan Fitzpatrick would remain the starter and still receive all the first-team reps in practice.
On Wednesday, Smith fully participated in practice for the first time since now-former teammate IK Enemkpali punched him Aug. 11 in the locker room and broke his jaw, during a dispute over $600 Smith supposedly owed Enemkpali.
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Smith was going to be the starter before he was punched. Now, it is Fitzpatrick's job to lose. And he hasn't done anything to lose it so far, as the Jets are 2-0 entering Sunday's game against the Eagles.
How does Smith feel about losing his starting job, and about it now being completely out of his control for whether he ever gets it back?
"You want to be out there," Smith said Thursday, after again fully participating in practice. "I'm not happy. But it's not one of those things where it's going to change my approach, or going to change the way that I approach teammates. It's the decision. I understand it. I'm not bitter about it. I understand why."
But Smith chafed at the notion that his window with the Jets is closing, here in his third season. (The Jets could very easily move on from him after this season.)
"The window and all that stuff, man, I'm 24 years old," he said. "So whoever wants to say that, they can say that. But I know that I have a lot of football left in me, and I will get a chance. ... Once I do get a chance, if it happens here or wherever, just being ready."
It's not like Smith lost his job because of poor play. He lost it because of a freak, off-field incident.
"That's the frustrating part about it," Smith said. "I think that's the most frustrating part about the whole situation. But I'm still coming in here upbeat. I'm not going to let the situation affect who I am or the way that I approach my job, or my teammates."
Smith said he's "not at all" surprised he won't have a chance right now to battle for the starting job. Nor should he be surprised. What happened is in line with what Bowles said on the day Smith was punched.
"You kind of understand how things work," Smith said. "And we're on a roll right now, so I'm not opposed to it. It's out of my control."
Smith said he learned about Bowles' decision through the coach's comments to reporters. Bowles never informed Smith directly. Smith said he didn't mind finding out this way, adding, "It's not a big deal. That's how it went."
Smith said the final X-ray on his jaw this week fully cleared him to practice and play. His recovery window was initially estimated at six to 10 weeks. As it turned out, he returned in six weeks. Smith said he expected to return on the early end, because "I've always been a fast healer."
He said he feels 100 percent back to normal, and that he has received reps with the Jets' regular offense, in addition to working with the scout team in practice.
Either Smith or rookie Bryce Petty will be Fitzpatrick's backup Sunday. Bowles said he will determine that on Saturday. Smith said he definitely feels ready to play, if called upon, though he knows there's a rust factor, since he didn't participate in team periods at practice for six weeks.
"Mentally, I've always been staying with it," Smith said. "Never took a day off. Physically, don't know. You have to get out there and see how it feels. But mentally, I think I'm still there.
"Today, I felt good. As long as I'm watching tape, as long as I know what's going on, on the mental side of it, once you get out there on the field, and you see it [defensive fronts, coverages, etc.], it's like riding a bike. Physically, I feel fine. I'm spinning the ball well in practice, but you have to get in the game to actually understand where you are."
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