The New York Jets have named Ryan Fitzpatrick their starter for Sunday despite the quarterback needing surgery.
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Palmer wore a glove on his left hand for the remainder of ’09, just as Fitzpatrick did at practice Wednesday. He returned later when Geno Smith was also injured, though he admitted after the game that the injury prevented him from gripping the ball properly. “That’s the one positive”.
None of that was necessary, as both Fitzpatrick and Smith practiced fully on Wednesday.
“I don’t think it gets any worse, but I don’t know how much better it’s going to get either”. The Jets starting quarterback reportedly had no trouble taking snaps, and looks to be ready to go this weekend, according to Jets reporter Brian Costello.
This is good news for a Jets side that started the season hot, but have since cooled down. The surgery, however, can be put off until the end of the season. It’s looking more and more like it will be either Smith or Fitzpatrick under center this week, and if it’s Smith, Marshall will undoubtedly have his back. Palmer was hurt during the 2009 season while with the Bengals, but played in every game, leading the Bengals to the playoffs and making the Pro Bowl.
“Just that alone, having somebody that has done it and has gone through it and really somebody who is a good friend of mine”, Fitzpatrick said.
“He went through the same thing and we were able to talk and bounce ideas off each other”, Fitzpatrick said. “He’s been a decent asset for me”.
Bowles said Fitzpatrick will be able to run the regular offense without any limitations, although he apparently will deal with a few pain.
“That was a pleasant surprise”, he said.
“Yeah, there’s a lot of people that can do it one-handed and kind of flick it”, he said. “So I’m going to have to try and learn different techniques”.
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Needless to say, the Jets’ team health is about more than QBs, and six players didn’t practice today – WRs Marshall (toe/ankle), Eric Decker (knee) and Devin Smith (foot), O-linemen Nick Mangold (neck) and Willie Colon (knee), and S Calvin Pryor (ankle).
