New York Jets: Christian Hackenberg shows need for quarterback stability
For the first time in two years, New York Jets quarterback Christian Hackenberg could have a chance to see the field.
The New York Jets have a lot to work on at the quarterback position, and the latest news to come out of New York may prove this theory true. After two years warming the bench, former Penn State quarterback Christian Hackenberg may finally get his chance to shine.
Wednesday, Jets head coach Todd Bowles did not dismiss the idea that the second-year signal-caller may take the field as the Jets wrap up their 2017 season against the New England Patriots. “We’ll see how the game goes,” Bowles told ESPN’s Rich Cimini. Although not a specific answer, he at least acknowledged that Hackenberg could take the field.
In the meantime, Bryce Petty will get the start this week as he tries to temper a surging Patriots defense. Sunday’s start will be his third in a row and seventh this season. At the very least, the Jets have consistency at the quarterback position as of now. He has struggled to say the least at this point in the season. Throwing for 312 yards, a touchdown and three interceptions, the Jets would probably like to see more out of him if not on Sunday than in the future.
If anything, this news signifies that the Jets still have issues at the quarterback position. This has been their Achilles’ heel since they released Mark Sanchez back in March of 2014. Drafted in the first round, No 9 overall back in 2009, the Jets thought they had found their man.
In the beginning, Sanchez was exactly what the doctor ordered for the Jets as he led them to back-to-back championship games in 2010 and 2011. Although he would perform well over the next couple of seasons, he began a decline accelerated by injuries culminating with his release from the team in March 2014.
Ever since the successful Sanchez Era ended, New York has had a plethora of starting quarterbacks. Geno Smith started all 16 games in 2013 and 13 more in 2014 while Michael Vick started the other three. It was not until Ryan Fitzpatrick came to town in 2015 that the team began to get stability back to the position.
He had moderate success while in the Big Apple, throwing for over 2,000 years in the two seasons he played there. This year, Josh McCown played well and was having a productive season. However, his season was cut short when it was announced he would have surgery on his broken left hand in December.
Although McCown is an option for next season, I wouldn’t bank on him coming back 100 percent or for that matter, at all. He’s 38 years old and a shadow has engulfed the future of his playing career following this injury.
“You never know,” he told Newsday in December following the injury. “You get flooded with emotions of all those things, because you don’t know. It’s a family decision every year. I don’t know what’s next. The possibility of something coming to an end, you just don’t know. So yeah, it’s just emotional, because I love these guys so much, love these coaches and love this organization. It means a lot to me to be here.”
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With Hackenberg possibility getting a chance to see action Sunday, he may have the unfortunate opportunity of adding to the quarterback carousel happening in New York. It is not the best category to be in and hopefully for the Jets, he will be one of the last ones involved in it.
The fact of the matter is, they need stability at the position, and soon.