Reports that quarterback David Garrard has been telling teammates with the Jets that he’s leaving the team have been confirmed by Garrard himself.
While Garrard wasn’t ready to talk to Jeff Darlington of NFL.com about what was going on, the veteran did text Adam Schein of Sirius XM NFL Radio with a little explanation. Garrard is leaving the Jets’ quarterback competition because his knee, which required an operation after he hurt it with the Dolphins last year, isn’t sound enough to allow him to continue.
“Having to call it quits. My knee is not holding up,” Garrard wrote. “Continuing to swell after practices. Limiting what I can do.”
Offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg said earlier Wednesday that he’d like to see a quick end to the quarterback competition, something that could be easier to engineer with one less quarterback taking reps during OTAs and training camp. Whether Mark Sanchez or Geno Smith’s chances of landing the starting job are helped more by Garrard’s departure is up for debate, but the departure of the team’s other experienced quarterback would seem to raise the chances that Sanchez sticks around in one role or another this year.