NFL roundup: Geno Smith to start for the New York Jets on Sunday
The New York Jets will turn to former starting quarterback Geno Smith in Week 7 of the NFL season, as they look to improve on their 1-5 record.
Heading into the 2016 NFL season, the New York Jets knew it would be tough sledding for the first six weeks. Their early season schedule featured some of the best teams in the league, and their record shows that they did not take care of business. After starting out 1-5 and having their expensive starting quarterback play like hot garbage, the team made the switch to Geno Smith on Wednesday to take over under center.
Smith was once the team’s starter, and was in line to start last year until he was punched by teammate IK Enemkpali during the preseason over a $600 dollar plane ticket. Smith shattered his jaw, and by the time he was healthy enough to play, Ryan Fitzpatrick was putting together the most prolific season in Jets history. Smith will now get a chance to show the Jets, and the rest of the league, he is starting material.
The Pittsburgh Steelers had previously thought that Ben Roethlisberger could possibly return after their bye week in Week 8, but that notion is no longer valid. Big Ben will be out for possibly 4-to-6 weeks after having surgery to clean up his knee this week. Roethlisberger was hurt on a bootleg in the Steelers’ upset loss to the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, and the team will now turn to Landry Jones to lead the ship until he is back.
On Thursday night, the Green Bay Packers will host the Chicago Bears in an NFC North match-up at Lambeau Field. This week, the team made a trade with the Kansas City Chiefs to pick up some help in the backfield, giving away a draft pick for Knile Davis. On Wednesday, starting running back Eddie Lacy was ruled out of the TNF match-up with the Bears, and will join his backup, James Starks, on the shelf. Looks like picking up Davis was a good move for the Pack, who have been struggling offensively this season.
Incredibly, Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict will not be fined for going after New England Patriots’ tight end Martellus Bennett’s knees this past Sunday. The league did rule that he would be fined $75k for his unnecessary roughness penalty on running back LeGarrette Blount, but he plans to appeal that fine. Burfict has a history of horrible displays of unsportsmanlike conduct on the playing field and is just bad for the game at this point.
Finally, some news about the Oakland Raiders, who just may become the Las Vegas Raiders after all. Team owner Mark Davis will file paperwork this January for the team to move to Las Vegas, and he made his intentions known to his fellow owners on Wednesday. The Raiders were given clearance to relocate to Los Angeles this past year but were beaten out by the Rams. His Raiders are currently 4-2 on the young season, which is good for first place in the AFC West.
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