The Jets are one-and-done with sitting Ryan Fitzpatrick. Coach Todd Bowles announced Monday that Fitzpatrick will return as the team's starting quarterback for Sunday's Week 12 home game against the Patriots.
The decision smells of desperation for 3-7 New York, which has no chance to make the playoffs in 2016. Unfortunately, it's the only decision Bowles could make.
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Fitzpatrick, who was battling a knee injury, did not start in Week 10 before the bye. Bryce Petty replaced him, and the Jets' offense went further inept in a 9-6 home loss to Los Angeles. Petty, after a good start, was overwhelmed by the Rams' defense and relied mostly on checkdowns.
Geno Smith, after his season-ending knee injury (torn right ACL), is no longer an option. Neither is rookie second-round pick Christian Hackenberg, who has struggled to the point of not being able to get practice reps and is far from gameday-ready, even as a backup.
If the Jets viewed Petty, their 2015 fourth-rounder, as a potential QB of the future, they would want to see what he can do over the final six games. Clearly, they don't.
But there's another layer to all of this, on top of the Jets being in a no-win situation with their Fitzpatrick alternatives.
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Bowles is firmly on the coaching hot seat, and he can only save his job with a strong finish to the season that creates promise for the inevitable rebuild next year. Had Petty played somewhat well against the Rams, things might be different. But the Jets, after dropping six of their last eight games, need some cosmetic wins.
There's a good chance Fitzpatrick, Smith, Petty and Hackenberg won't be among New York's QB choices next offseason. For the rest of this season, there are a few more of the $12 million reasons to play Fitzpatrick.
Because the Jets scrambled so late to sign Fitzpatrick, they are cutting off their nose cone to spite their face. And they think saving face is a better look than turning the page, even if it should come with less desired results.
Bowles is in a tough situation, trying to get plenty of core, holdover veterans to want to play for something. At least Fitzpatrick creates the semblance of somebody around whom to rally, because that somebody is not Bowles anymore.
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It's sad that Bowles stepped into this M-E-S-S, because he deserved better in his first head-coaching opportunity. He and GM Mike Maccagnan were brought in during the limbo between contending and rebuilding, and bringing back Fitzpatrick was the ultimate mixed message.
The Jets won't be winning much more with Fitzpatrick, but at least they will be motivated to win a little more. They need to understand, though, that it won't fly well with most of their fans.
