All of the attention is on Mark Sanchez and Geno Smith, but the Jets quarterback who is having the best preseason statistically is Matt Simms.
The son of Giants legend Phil Simms is fighting to make the Jets roster and making a convincing argument to be the team’s No. 3.
He completed 6-of-10 passes for 120 yards and a touchdown in the Jets’ 24-21 preseason victory over the Giants. Simms is 11-for-15 for 193 yards and the touchdown in the preseason for a quarterback rating of 137.5.
“I thought he played well,” coach Rex Ryan said Saturday. “He was up and down, but he had 6-of-10 [passing and] a 135.0 quarterback rating, so he did some good things. Coming here to play the Giants, I think obviously was big for him. The play of his dad was pretty darn good for a number of years also.”
Simms connected with Ryan Spadola for a 70-yard pass in overtime that set up the game-winning field goal.
“That play, just a scramble drill,” Simms said. “Run out of the pocket and make something happen. Luckily I put enough juice on the ball for [Spadola] to come back and catch it. He did a great job coming back and making a great play after the catch as well.”
Simms is battling Greg McElroy for the third quarterback spot. McElroy has not played in the last two weeks because of an ankle injury. The two of them will likely see all of the action Thursday night against the Eagles and the other quarterback competition on the Jets could be decided then.
* A few players besides Sanchez were injured Saturday night, but none of the injuries seem serious. Cornerback Antonio Cromartie exited in the first quarter with a hip injury. Cromartie posted on Twitter yesterday that he is fine and was just being cautious.
Wide receiver Stephen Hill had X-rays on his wrist after the game but a source said yesterday that he is fine. Offensive lineman Vlad Ducasse was kicked in the back of the leg, according to a source, which led to him leaving the game early.
Defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson came out of the game with what looked like an ankle injury. He posted to Twitter that he is also fine.
