Jets' Todd Bowles: 'If he's playing well, Geno Smith is the starter'

Contrary what New York Jets offensive coordinator Chan Gailey told reporters recently, Geno Smith isn't cemented as the team's starting quarterback.

"Come camp time, there will be competition (at quarterback) ..." head coach Todd Bowles said Wednesday. "(For now), the first-team reps will go to the guy that was first team quarterback last year."

However, Bowles did make it clear that the starting job is Smith's to lose.

"If he's playing well, he's the starter," Bowles said, adding that it could change based on performance.

Bowles's comments differ from those of Gailey, who said there would be no competition between Smith and veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick, who the Jets acquired from the Houston Texans earlier this offseason. The Jets also drafted former Baylor quarterback Bryce Petty in the fourth round of this year's draft.

Smith struggled in his second season, completing 59.7 percent of his passes for 2,525 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions. The Jets clearly aren't ready to give up on him just yet, though.