FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- The New York Jets resolved their starting-quarterback issue when they re-signed Ryan Fitzpatrick on the eve of training camp, but now there's an emerging question about the No. 2 position.
Coach Todd Bowles sent mixed signals on Sunday, fueling speculation that Geno Smith could lose the position to upstart Bryce Petty, who threw two touchdowns Friday night against the Washington Redskins.
Smith went into the second preseason game as the No. 2 quarterback, per Bowles, who outlined his depth chart last week. This time, he declined to get into specifics. He wouldn't say who will relieve Fitzpatrick when they face the New York Giants on Saturday night.
"We've got a plan for the quarterbacks that we're not revealing," he said.
Asked if there are any changes to the depth chart, Bowles replied, "Until we make a change, there won't be. That's any position. When we make a decision at the end of camp, if it changes, it changes. If it doesn't, it doesn't."
Bowles also said, "Right now, they're all playing and we're trying to see who sorts out what."
This is a compelling story because the Jets are toying with the idea of keeping four quarterbacks on their opening-day roster, something that hasn't been since the 2013 Washington Redskins.
Fitzpatrick and rookie Christian Hackenberg, a second-round pick, are locks to make the 53-man roster. The question is whether they keep Smith, a former starter, and/or Petty, who has no regular-season experience.
Chances are, the Jets will wind up keeping Smith, but Bowles apparently doesn't want to tip his hand.
Petty, a fourth-round pick in 2015, has improved considerably since his rookie year. In two preseason games, he has completed 23 of 40 passes for 335 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions -- a 101.6 passer rating. But he has played against mostly third-string defenses.
"It's an audition for anybody watching that tape, but first and foremost it's for the Jets because I want to be here," Petty said. "Each time I come out here, it's to put on a show for them."
Smith is 14 of 27, with 126 yards, one touchdown and one interception -- a 61.7 passer rating. On Sunday, he led a few long drives in practices and ended up with 27 reps to Petty's 12. Bowles said the extra workload for Smith wasn't by design.
On Friday night, Smith threw into triple coverage and was intercepted, while Petty passed for 242 yards in the second half after replacing Smith. Still, Bowles was measured with his praise.
"He'd like to have some throws back," Bowles said of Petty. "He made some mistakes. He made some good throws, he made some bad throws, too. I think all of them did. We've got to get better in that category all the way around."