Geno Smith's sudden injury resulted in the New York Jets scanning free agency new quarterback.

That search is over, as the Jets will enter the 2015 season with Matt Flynn as Ryan Fitzpatrick's temporary backup rather than rookie fourth round pick Bryce Petty.  

Petty didn't fair well in the preseason opener, and letting him have the backup role left the possibility of the Baylor product seeing the field in his first season, something the Jets desperately wanted to avoid.


After spending most of his career as Aaron Rodgers backup with the Green Bay Packers, Matt Flynn has floated around league. He was released by the New England Patriots earlier this month due to a hamstring injury.

The seventh round pick out of LSU in 2007 earned himself a pretty penny when he was signed to the Seattle Seahawks in 2012 after going off for 480 yards and six touchdowns in the 2012 season finale against the Detroit Lions. Despite being signed to start, Flynn lost his potential job to third round draft pick Russell Wilson, an eventual super bowl champion.

The Jets met with Michael Vick last week, but decided not to go the same route as last season.

If Fitzpatrick is injured, Flynn will bring some experience to the table, but his arm strength is meager. There wasn't much to pick from in the free agency pool, and it's possible that Flynn was the best option. 

Ryan Hagerty is the New York Jets Expert for About.com. He can be reached on Twitter (@hags_ryan), or via email (rhagerty21@gmail.com). 

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