Geno Smith was throwing to injured wide receivers Devin Smith and Shaq Evans off to the side of the practice field in the rehab area. He was wearing the hands-off red jersey, which he really needed more in the Jets locker room a couple of weeks ago to protect him from IK Enemkpali — the nobody who busted his jaw over $600 — than he did Monday.
If Smith’s first step back to the field concerned just about any starting quarterback other than Smith, it would have been treated as season-saving news. But there is a significant faction of personnel people who believe the Jets are better off with journeyman Ryan Fitzpatrick, a Harvard man who is a leader and an engaging guy.