Geno Smith Exits Jets' 31-12 Loss Twice After Concussion Check, Ankle Injury

Q: With Geno Smith sidelined by a brutal ankle injury, who will rescue the New York Jets from their disastrous 2-8 season?

If Geno Smith misses time, Cade Klubnik is the Jets’ most likely answer, with Will Levis only an emergency fallback. That is less a rescue plan than a necessity. Smith left Sunday’s 31-12 loss to Buffalo after a heavy hit, cleared concussion protocol, returned briefly, then exited again with an ankle injury and was ruled out. Coach Aaron Glenn said the ankle must be assessed before the team decides next week’s quarterback plan. Klubnik is the only quarterback on the active game-day roster behind Smith, and he already took over for his NFL debut against the Bills. The rookie fourth-round pick from Clemson finished 11 of 20 for 137 yards, no touchdowns and one interception, while adding some mobility. He did move the offense into field-goal range, but he also showed the expected inconsistency of a first NFL appearance. Levis, recently signed to the practice squad, is the other name to watch if Smith’s injury proves serious. But based on the current setup, he is a contingency option, not the immediate starter. The Jets would need to elevate him if they wanted him available on game day. The larger problem is that no quarterback alone is likely to “rescue” a 2-8 team that has lost five straight and gone two full games without a touchdown. If Smith cannot play, the Jets’ realistic path is to give Klubnik reps, see whether he can stabilize the offense, and use the remaining games to evaluate whether he can be more than a short-term replacement.

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Nov 15

Geno Smith left Sunday’s 31-12 loss to Buffalo twice—first for concussion protocol after his head hit the turf on a second-quarter hit, then for an ankle injury that ended his day in the fourth.
Terrel Bernard and another Bills defender hit Smith high and low just after he released a pass, sending the Jets quarterback hard onto his back and head.
Smith later cleared protocol and returned after halftime, but his second stint was brief before he walked to the locker room with the game slipping away.
Smith finished 13-of-21 for 148 yards, while rookie Cade Klubnik went 11-of-20 with an interception in relief.
The defeat was New York’s fifth straight, dropping the Jets to 2-8 as Smith’s health becomes a key issue for the week ahead.