Geno Smith To Miss 6-10 Weeks After Locker Room Altercation

Steve Mitchell/USA Today

New York Jets head coach Todd Bowles announced today that quarterback Geno Smith suffered a broken jaw after a sucker punch in a locker room fight with linebacker IK Enemkpail. His timetable is 6-10 weeks.

Enemkpail has been released since the altercation over Smith not paying the linebacker back for a $600 plane ticket.

Backup quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick will look to take over the starting duties while Smith is out.

Last season for the Jets, Smith passed for 2,525 yards, throwing 13 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. Though he struggled and did not play up to expectations, Smith earned the starting job early on in the preseason. The Jets were preparing to give Smith another chance, signing Fitzpatrick as a reliable replacement.

Even though Smith has struggled since coming into the league, there is still an upside to him; he has the ability to be a solid passer, has good speed, and can get out of the pocket and scramble for a few yards when necessary. The problem with Smith is his inconsistency, as he struggles with his accuracy and is known for making poor decisions resulting in turnovers.

Preseason is starting up and this is the last thing Jets needed. The team will likely give Smith a chance of proving himself when he is 100 percent healthy; he will miss the preseason and could miss a few weeks in the regular season.