Jets’ head coach Rex Ryan is sticking with Geno Smith for the time being, but has left the door open for Michael Vick to take over as the team’s starter, writes Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News.
“I feel like (Smith) will start the rest of the games,” Ryan said. “But again, things happen. And we’ll see.”
Still, if the time comes, backup Vick will be ready to step in and try to help the team win.
“They’ve seen what I can do,” Vick said. “They know what I can do and I know what I can do. And if I get an opportunity, I’m going to do it and make sure I’m good at it.”
Vick is supportive of Smith, and has been since the moment he arrived in East Rutherford. However, he acknowledges that whether it is himself or Smith, the team needs better play from the quarterback position.
“There’s no doubt in my mind that I can help this football team win games,” Vick said. “There’s no doubt in my mind that (Smith) can help this football team win games. So, whether it’s him or whether it’s me at some point, we’re going to get it done. We got to get it done. There’s no other option.”
While Smith was supposed to take a huge step forward this year, he has struggled the past two games against the Packers and the Bears. The Jets are almost halfway through the toughest six game stretch of their season, and a win over the Lions could alleviate many of the questions surrounding the team’s quarterback situation. A bad loss could bring Ryan one step closer to inserting Vick into the starting lineup.