EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The New York Jets' fan base apparently approves of the team's decision to re-sign Ryan Fitzpatrick, relegating Geno Smith to No. 2 duty -- again.
Smith was booed by the sparse home crowd after two early incompletions (yes, really), but he ignored the rude welcome and fired a 17-yard touchdown pass to Charone Peake in the Jets' 17-13 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday night at MetLife Stadium. It came on the one-year anniversary of Smith's locker-room altercation with IK Enemkpali, who broke his then-teammate's jaw with a punch.
On this night, Smith replaced fan favorite Fitzpatrick, who led the starting offense to one touchdown in two series. Fitzpatrick played only nine snaps and did just enough to make it a successful preseason debut. For Fitzpatrick, who had no offseason work because of his contract situation, this was a rust-removal game. He accomplished that.
The Jets made the right decision by re-signing Fitzpatrick. The crowd at the MetLife sauna apparently thought so, too.
QB depth chart: Fitzpatrick, Smith and Bryce Petty were a combined 18-for-32, 244 yards, with one touchdown and no turnovers. Rookie Christian Hackenberg didn't play, but his roster spot is secure. This really was a showcase for Petty, who could be the odd man out if the Jets decide to keep only three quarterbacks. Petty (7-for-14, 93 yards) had a couple of nice moments, but he missed a wide-open Jace Amaro for a potential big play. His game management also was suspect at times. Petty didn't hurt his chances, but he didn't help them, either.
Maybe that dude could start: Quincy Enunwa, one of the team's most improved players, started with a strong game -- two catches for 69 yards. Coach Todd Bowles says Enunwa is the Dennis Rodman of the Jets' offense, meaning he does the dirty work. Evidently, he can do more than that. He got open twice on downfield routes, showing an ability to stretch the field. Technically, he's their No. 3 receiver, but also can play tight end. His hybrid ability helps create favorable matchups. Enunwa will be a factor this season, count on it.
Who got hurt? As expected, running back Matt Forte (hamstring) and defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson (leg) didn't play. Cornerback Darrelle Revis dressed, but didn't play, probably as a precaution. He has had only a few practices since returning from offseason wrist surgery. Running back Dominique Williams left with an apparent concussion.
A surprise player who impressed: Continuing his strong summer, rookie wide receiver Jalin Marshall made one of the biggest plays of the night, an 84-yard kickoff return. He showed nice change-of-direction on the play, breaking into the clear before he was chased down. Marshall, an undrafted free agent from Ohio State, might have nailed down a roster spot. He could be the fourth or fifth receiver, earning his keep on special teams.
When it was starters vs. starters, the Jets looked ...: They weren't terribly crisp on either side of the ball. The offense made two plays (26 and 43-yard receptions by Enunwa) and that was about it. The starting defense surrendered a 12-play, 55-yard field-goal drive in its only series. It struggled against the pass, as the Jaguars' quarterbacks completed 10 of their first 11 passes. There appeared to be a couple of miscues in the secondary. But don't forget, the Jets played without their two best defenders, Revis and Wilkerson.
One reason to be concerned: It wasn't a great night for the secondary (no pass breakups), especially cornerback Dee Milliner. The former first-round pick, relegated to No. 4 cornerback duty, allowed two passes for 61 yards and missed a tackle that resulted in a big gain. Maybe he's rusty; he hadn't played on defense since October 2014.
Big night for special teams: When was the last time we could say that? The kicking units were awful last season, costing Bobby April his job. His replacement, Brant Boyer, is a fiery coach who has instilled a new mentality. They changed field position with two long kickoff returns -- Marshall's 84-yarder and Jeremy Ross' 51-yard return. The coverage units were solid, too. The only negative was Ross Martin, who went 1-for-3 in his debut (misses from 39 and 54 yards). That will hurt his chances of unseating incumbent kicker Nick Folk.
Rookie report: Linebacker Darron Lee (first round) saw significant action, recording a sack (a cheap one) and tackle for loss (a nice play). His speed was obvious, but he needs to do a better job of reading blocks and shedding blockers. He was out of position at times. Linebacker Jordan Jenkins (third round) started the game and, much like Lee, struggled to get off blocks. Welcome to the NFL.
