Jets to start QB Geno Smith
— -- In a surprise, the New York Jets have decided to return to Geno Smith as their starting quarterback, sending Michael Vick to the bench after only three starts.
The team made the announcement shortly after 7 a.m. Wednesday after coach Rex Ryan met with the two players.
On Tuesday, after the team's embarrassing 38-3 loss to the Buffalo Bills, Ryan was leaning toward keeping Vick in the lineup, according to a source. But late Tuesday night, the decision was made to start Smith, a source said.
The feeling close to the team is that general manager John Idzik insisted that Ryan start Smith, his underperforming former second-round pick.
Smith's return will happen on a national stage, as the Jets play the Miami Dolphins on Monday night at MetLife Stadium.
Say this for the Jets (2-9): Even when they're bad, their quarterback situation never fails to fascinate. This marks the second quarterback change of the season.
After a Week 8 blowout loss to the Bills that dropped them to 1-7, the Jets benched Smith, who threw three straight interceptions in the game. At the time, Ryan had little choice but to make the change, as the locker room had grown weary of Smith's turnover-prone ways.
Vick went 1-2 as the starter. He played turnover-free football in his first two starts, steadying the offense with his veteran leadership. But he was terrible on Monday night, completing only 7 of 19 passes for 76 yards and an interception. Smith replaced him in the third quarter.
Vick suffered wrist and ankle injuries in the game, but those apparently didn't factor into the decision. On Tuesday, Ryan told reporters that the decision wouldn't be based on Vick's health.
Related Stories
ABC News Live