Are the Jets showcasing Geno Smith for a trade?

As reports of Geno Smith's demise with the New York Jets swirl after a horrendous performance in Week 2 of the preseason, it may seem curious that head coach Todd Bowles kept him second on the depth chart this week.

But with a Week 3 matchup with the New York Giants looming, and Smith slated to play significant snaps, it's becoming more likely that the Jets could be showcasing their former second-round pick as trade bait.

The Jets currently have four quarterbacks on the roster. Two of them, Ryan Fitzpatrick and 2016 second-rounder Christian Hackenberg, will definitely be there when Week 1 begins, while Smith and Bryce Petty are competing to hold a clipboard.

Before the Fitzpatrick holdout ended, it was hard to envision the Jets moving on from Smith - he'd taken control of the starting job throughout OTAs and seemed to have the coaching staff's trust heading into his fourth season.

But as soon the lights came on, Smith reverted to a form many Jets fans are familiar with: the talented yet turnover-prone quarterback who can't seem to get out of his own way.

So what are the Jets to do?

They seem to have three plausible options:

1. Trade or release Smith
2. Trade or release Petty
3. Carry four quarterbacks

The wild card here is Petty. The 2015 fourth-rounder is under team control through 2019, so he's the lower-risk option to groom in conjunction with Hackenberg. Smith becomes a free agent after the season and should be looking to get out of New York if he's not tabbed as the franchise quarterback.

If Petty's performing close to or above Smith's level, it's a clear choice for a franchise content to roll with Fitzpatrick this season.

The biggest clue pointing to a Geno showcase over the next two weeks may be the quick change in Bowles' tune: He went from ambivalence to clear affirmation about Smith's standing on the depth chart in a matter of days. That change of course suggests the front office might have intervened in a situation that could be massaged to the franchise's benefit.

If the Jets let Smith showcase what he can do for another franchise on Saturday, it could benefit both sides. However, if Smith is truly the team's second-best quarterback and New York loses Fitzpatrick to injury, the Jets could discover they gambled away the 2016 season.