Geno Smith will start at quarterback for the New York Jets in their second NFL preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, head coach Aaron Glenn announced.
The matchup marks the first time in a decade that Smith will don a Jets jersey. The projected regular season starting quarterback missed New York's preseason opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers due to ankle soreness, but he continued practicing through the week in the run-up to the weekend contest.
Glenn had kept Smith's status for the game secret before confirming his return to the field. "I just think there's soreness," Glenn said of the quarterback's ankle.
"I think any player at this point knows that something is going to hurt at some point. He's a competitor and he wants to make sure he gets those reps in," Glenn added. "The thing is that we want to be smart too about how we go about doing things when it comes to him and any of our players."
Jets look to bounce back after opening loss
Smith was drafted by the Jets in 2013 and spent four seasons with the team early in his career. His start against Pittsburgh gives New York its projected leader on offense as NFL teams use preseason exhibition games to build chemistry before the regular season begins.
In Smith's absence during the preseason opener last Friday, former Clemson quarterback and Jets rookie Cade Klubnik got the start against Tampa Bay. Neither Klubnik nor backup quarterbacks Brady Cook and Bailey Zappe managed to complete a touchdown pass on the night.
The only touchdown scored by the Jets came on the ground from the feet of running back Braelon Allen. The Buccaneers won the game 24-16, driven by rushing touchdowns from quarterback Jalon Daniels and running back Josh Williams.
