Aug 12, 2017; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets quarterback Josh McCown (15) in action against the Tennessee Titans during a preseason game at MetLife Stadium. Photo Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Josh McCown, who has played for eight teams in 15 NFL seasons, would be the first to admit he not Tom Brady or Aaron Rodgers. But McCown will outdo Brady, Rodgers and other superstar quarterbacks in at least one category this season: fewest preseason snaps taken by a Week 1 starter.
New York Jets coach Todd Bowles ended one of the weirdest and most drawn-out quarterback “competitions” in memory on Monday afternoon when he named McCown the starter for the season opener against the Buffalo Bills on Sept. 10.
“He gives us the best chance to win right now,” Bowles said Monday. “From his talent, he’s proven it this spring and this summer.”
That Bowles uttered those comments after McCown directed just one series in the preseason is a damning indictment of Christian Hackenberg.
McCown’s series — the first drive of the preseason opener against the Tennessee Titans on Aug. 12 — ended with a touchdown, which means he led the Jets to more points in one drive than Hackenberg did in 24 full drives.
Technically, Hackenberg led the Jets to their final points Saturday in a 32-31 loss to the New York Giants when he threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to Frankie Hammond with 1:26 remaining before Elijah McGuire was stuffed on the go-ahead two-point conversion attempt.
However, coming in after Bryce Petty got hurt and marching the Jets down the field against third- and fourth-stringers was not nearly enough to undo the damage Hackenberg did while Bowles seemed to try to will him into winning the job for the rebuilding Jets.
Before relieving Petty on Saturday, Hackenberg created more points for opponents (16) than the Jets (three) in three preseason games. All the “damage” occurred when Hackenberg threw two interceptions that were returned for touchdowns, and he was behind center when Matt Forte was dragged down in the end zone for a safety.
“This has nothing to do with his development,” Bowles said of Hackenberg. “He’s 22 years old. He has time to grow. He’ll grow from this.”
Bowles’ words notwithstanding, Hackenberg might have done enough this summer to prove to the Jets he never will get beyond this nascent stage.
If anything, Hackenberg fell down the depth chart in favor of Petty, who didn’t play against first-stringers in exhibition action but looked competent (32 of 48 for 426 yards, three touchdown and one interception) before surviving an injury scare Saturday when he sprained a knee falling into offensive lineman Ben Braden.
An MRI showed no damage, and Petty should be fine for Week 1, when he likely will back up McCown.
Petty was passable in spurts last season (75 of 133, 809 yards, three touchdowns, seven interceptions), which is essential given the fragility of the 38-year-old McCown, who has played in just 22 games the past three seasons and has never made more than 13 starts in his career.
Now McCown will look to prove he is the Jets’ best option, not their only one.
“There’s a standard of play I want to achieve, and I’m looking forward to playing the best ball I’ve ever played,” McCown said Monday. “That’s my goal.”
