Thursday marks the one-year anniversary from when Geno Smith’s life was forever altered.
On Aug. 11, 2015, Smith was in the Jets locker room when then-teammate IK Enemkpali punched Smith, breaking his jaw and costing him his starting quarterback job.
“It feels like 10 years, 20 years,” Smith said Tuesday, when asked about the one-year mark.
What led up to the punch depends on whom you ask. What has happened since then can’t be disputed. Smith, who was expected to be the Jets’ starter for the third straight season, went to the bench. Ryan Fitzpatrick seized his opportunity, leading the team to a 10-6 record, and then re-signed on the eve of training camp, pushing Smith back to the bench.