The New York Jets need another quarterback for a while, so Matt Flynn, recently released by the New England Patriots, gets to be the one who joins them for the rest of the preseason and maybe some regular season games.
The broken jaw that Geno Smith suffers from results in the Jets left with the following three QBs: Ryan Fitzpatrick, who will take over the first-team duty, Bryce Petty, the fourth round draft pick who’ll make the team but is considered too raw to play right now, and Jake Heaps, an undrafted rookie. Smith is going to be out for at least four regular season games.
Flynn was released by the Patriots last week because of an injury, while Belichick hinted that he might bring him back if he was healthy again and there was room in the squad. But Flynn didn’t wait for another call from New England and joined their division rivals, the Jets, trying to find a backup spot that will last the rest of the season.
Flynn has made over $18 million in the NFL despite only seven starts since entering the league. He had a number of opportunities to become a starter for the Oakland Raiders and Seattle Seahawks, but on both occasions didn’t do enough in training camp and preseason to earn a starting spot. Serving as a backup, mostly to Aaron Rodgers, has been his main job since leaving college and entering the NFL.
The Jets are more than likely to start the season with the abnormal number of four quarterbacks, but that includes the injured Smith. Once he returns, Flynn or Heaps will probably be released.