Geno Smith Injury: Updates on Jets Star's Shoulder and Return

Updates from Sunday, Nov. 9

The Jets confirm Geno Smith is available to play in Week 10:

Updates from Sunday, Nov. 2

The Jets confirm Geno Smith is not available to play in Week 9:

Original Text

Geno Smith suffered a shoulder injury in Sunday's blowout loss to the Buffalo Bills, Rex Ryan confirmed on Monday.

Judy Battista of NFL.com shared the news:

Ryan also shared how Smith sustained the injury, via Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News:

Smith also spoke about the injury, via Dennis Waszak Jr. of the Associated Press:

The news was revealed after Smith lost the starting job to Michael Vick for Week 9, via Adam Schefter of ESPN:

Confidence is something Smith hasn't seemed to lack even after a rather bad rookie season that saw him post a 66.5 passer rating.

"The thing about it is, you have to climb up," said Smith, after learning of an ESPN survey that had him as the worst-rated starting QB in the NFL, per ESPN.com's Rich Cimini. "If I'm No. 32, by this time next year or the year after, I expect to be in the top 5."

Bleacher Report's Matt Miller came to Smith's defense, too:

Yet Smith has struggled this season, as he continues to make poor decisions and commit turnovers.

Smith has the arm talent to make all the throws required at the professional level, but the veteran Vick has a cannon and is fleeter of foot than even the athletic Smith is, so he may give the team a better chance to win games at this time.

An upgraded supporting cast, namely the additions of big wide receiver Eric Decker and electric ball-carrier Chris Johnson, were designed to help Smith take a big step in his second year. However, if he is unable to stay on the field, Vick may seize the opportunity and take over for the remainder of the season, which has been a major disappointment for New York.

This is, in all likelihood the last, best chance Vick has to secure a starting QB job, since he's 34 years old and has played all 16 games in a season just once (2006).

However, even if Vick fares well in relief of Smith, pushing the youngster to the bench could damage his long-term development. Losing his job with a rather short leash could impact Smith's ability to be the Jets' long-term answer at quarterback and therefore be seen as a blown second-round draft pick.

After the lackluster Mark Sanchez era, Smith must quickly prove he is the man. Fortunately for New York, his injury doesn't sound like it will keep him out for long or prevent him from progressing as a player.