Jets rookie quarterback Geno Smith didn’t play last night, but he said he’s close to being well, and still has a shot at the starting job.
Smith told Jane McManus of ESPNNewYork.com his sore ankle was “as close to 100 percent as it’s been this week,” and that he still had a shot to be the Jets starter.
“I was told the competition is still open,” Smith said.
If it is, he still has a chance, after Mark Sanchez failed to put it away with an up-and-down night against the Jaguars.
Smith pushed himself to practice last week, after injuring the ankle against the Lions a week ago. But he was obviously bothered by it, and had what Rex Ryan described as a “brutal” practice before he was shelved for the week.
“I wanted to be out there in practice,” Smith said. “I wouldn’t allow them to keep me out of practice. . . .
“Any chance I get to complete, I’m going to take full advantage of it.”
He walked in the door with a decent chance to win that competition, so he should feel that way, though playing hurt didn’t help him in practice this week.