EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – New York Jets rookie quarterback Geno Smith will not play in the team's preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars because of a sprained ankle.
Smith was injured in the Jets' preseason opener last Friday, suffering a mild sprain to his right ankle in the third quarter of the 26-17 loss. Smith was cleared by team trainers to practice but walked with a noticeable limp early in the week during training camp at SUNY Cortland, and acknowledged that the ankle was sore.
Mark Sanchez, competing with Smith for the job, is starting Saturday night and expected to play most of the first half.
Smith, the team's second-round draft pick, was intercepted four times in Wednesday's practice, including three in 11-on-11 drills, prompting coach Rex Ryan to call his performance "brutal."