Geno Smith was back in more ways than one Sunday.
Smith, the Jets' rookie quarterback, rebounded from a three-game losing streak with one of his crispest performances of the season in the 37-27 victory over the Oakland Raiders. As a result, Geno is one of the five nominees for the Pepsi NEXT NFL Rookie of the Week for Week 14, the NFL announced this morning.
Smith completed 16 of 25 passes for 219 yards, one touchdown pass to Jeremy Kerley, one interception and one sack. The QB also rolled for an 8-yard touchdown run — his fourth scoring run of the year — and added a 32-yard run, the longest of his career, on the final of his three touchdown drives in the fourth quarter in his five-carry, 50-yard rushing day.
The QB said Monday that "it's a lot different" coming to the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center on a Monday following a victory.
"The spirits are higher, but for me it's the same work week," he said. "I'm starting to prepare for Carolina, watching tape on them today, and also made some corrections from the previous game and just got back to work as normal, as we always do."
This is the third Pepsi NEXT Rookie of the Week award that Smith has been nominated for this season. He took home the award for his Week 7 heroics in the home overtime win over the New England Patriots.
This week's other nominees are Cincinnati RB Giovani Bernard, Baltimore WR Marlon Brown, Tampa Bay DE William Gholston and Minnesota WR Cordarrelle Patterson. Fans can vote for this week's award here through Friday at 3 p.m. ET. The award winner will be announced Friday on NFL Network's "NFL Total Access" and on NFL.com.
