Report: Jets giving Smith 'fair chance' to keep starting job

When Geno Smith was named the starting quarterback in place of Ryan Fitzpatrick this week, many in the football community suggested that it was only a matter of time before third-string Bryce Petty would get his shot in the lead role as well.

The New York Jets electing to evaluate one of their more recent draft picks - Petty or second-round rookie Christian Hackenberg - would certainly be a sensible move as their playoff hopes continue to slip away.

But that's not to say Smith's time in the starting spot is guaranteed to be limited.

Head coach Todd Bowles will give the former second-round pick a "fair chance" to keep the starting job as the season moves forward, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports.

Smith gets his first start since 2014 in Sunday's game against the Baltimore Ravens, and Rapoport's report hints that it'd take a few disastrous performances for him to lose that job at any point over the next few weeks.

While Smith had his share of turnover issues over the first two years of his NFL career, Fitzpatrick's nine interceptions through six games this season gave the Jets no choice but to make a change.

The new-look offense will face a difficult test right out of the gates, as Baltimore enters Week 7 ranked third with just 294.8 yards allowed per game.