Ryan Fitzpatrick Will Remain Jets' Starting QB After Geno Smith Returns

The New York Jets are off to a 2-0 start, and the team has no plans to make changes at its most important position for the time being.

Veteran quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick has the full endorsement of first-year head coach Todd Bowles, who stated Tuesday that Fitzpatrick would remain No. 1 on the depth chart over Geno Smith.

"When Geno Smith returns to full health, Ryan Fitzpatrick will continue to receive all of the first-team QB reps," said Bowles, per the Jets' official Twitter account. Bowles added, "Ryan is our QB right now. We're going good. We have good chemistry right now. Geno understands that," per the New York Daily News' Manish Mehta.

Smith suffered a broken jaw when former New York linebacker IK Enemkpali punched him in the face in August.

Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post doesn't believe reverting to Smith is logical because of how the 2015 campaign has unfolded for the Jets thus far:

"

The Jets look like they have a nice little team here. The only thing that could screw it up is if they go back to Geno Smith next month.

— Bart Hubbuch (@BartHubbuch) September 22, 2015"

Based on his inconsistency in two prior years as a pro, there was no guarantee Smith would keep his job as training camp starter as it was. Based on the way Fitzpatrick has played, Bowles has no reason to make a quarterback change.    

After Week 2's 20-7 road victory over the Indianapolis Colts, Fitzpatrick has a 94.3 passer rating, has completed 63.8 percent of his passes and has tossed four touchdowns to two interceptions.

Naysayers may argue Fitzpatrick's NFL ceiling has been established, that his solid play won't last and the Jets are an early-season flash in the pan. On the other hand, Fitzpatrick appears at home in his reunion with play-caller Chan Gailey, who used to coach him in Buffalo.

The Jets have a stupendous secondary and are bound to improve on defense when Sheldon Richardson returns to the trenches from a four-game suspension. All Fitzpatrick has to do is manage the game and minimize turnovers, which he's done a fine job of thus far.

Fitzpatrick tends to be a bit of a gunslinger, but his experience, innate knowledge of Gailey's system and stellar current form give him the edge over Smith.