The New York Jets' season isn't starting off well. Neither Mark Sanchez nor Geno Smith looked great during the preseason, and now the incumbent starter, Sanchez, is out with a shoulder injury. One bright spot for the Jets might be quarterback Matt Simms.
If the preseason is any indication, the Jets' quarterback situation hasn't improved from last year. Sanchez still looked like Sanchez in his three preseason games (2 touchdowns, 2 interceptions), and Smith looked like a rookie in need of more time before being ready to start.
Neither player has outright looked to be the best option at starter. It's understandable if Smith needs more time to mature as an NFL quarterback, but he may not be afforded that if Sanchez is unavailable to start Week 1, which the NY Daily News reports is likely.
The Jets, according to The News, plan to use this season to evaluate whether Smith can be a franchise quarterback. Either way, this is likely Sanchez's last season in New York - one could argue he's on the roster only because his 2013 salary was guaranteed.
Greg McElroy, last year's No. 2 quarterback, has seemingly shown what he can do. He's a solid backup quarterback, but he's unlikely to lead any team to a Lombardi trophy.
Enter Simms.
As a preface, it's worth noting the following is based on preseason games when most of the defensive starters were on the bench. Still, the Jets' quarterback situation is murky enough to warrant speculation - especially if Smith doesn't pan out.
Simms, the son of ex-NFL quarterback Phil Simms, was a 2012 undrafted free agent out of Tennessee. The Jets signed him that May, but released him three months later. This preseason gave Simms his first real chance to compete, and he played well.
Is Simms ready to compete for the starting job? No. Not even close. But it's worth keeping him as the fourth quarterback on the roster or signing him to the practice squad, which he's eligible for, to see how he develops. At this point, the Jets would do well to keep as many options open as possible.
*Denotes injury.
