Will Ryan Fitzpatrick be ready to play Sunday at Houston after last Friday's surgery? The QB and his head coach are among those with tentative thumbs up on that question.
"Everything went fine," Todd Bowles updated reporters today on the status of Fitzpatrick's left thumb.
Will he be able to participate in Wednesday's practice at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center? "We'll see. I'm hopeful he will be."
And what about Sunday against the Texans? Will he be starting?
"I'm hopeful, yeah," said the coach.
Fitzpatrick had no comment, since he was home still resting from the procedure to repair his left thumb ligament. But he was optimistic from consulting with the team's doctors and trainers beforehand that he would be able to continue to play as he had been since injuring the thumb early in Game 7 at Oakland.
It's all a matter of dealing with any lingering pain Fitzpatrick might have from the surgery, Bowles said, as well as showing no dropoff in taking snaps under center from Nick Mangold or handing the ball off despite the wrapped, braced, gloved left hand that he'd been playing with the past two games.
Of course, the Jets need contingency plans. If Fitzpatrick can't practice any day this week, "he's not playing," Bowles said, adding that he's got confidence in calling on Geno Smith to start or play against the Texans.
"I'm fine with Geno starting," Bowles said. "He's made great progress, he learned a lot under Ryan, he threw the ball well at Oakland for the most part. We'll move forward."
But none of that will even start to be known until Wednesday, when the bearded one is expected to return to the facility and head out for practice.
Elsewhere on the Injury Front
S Calvin Pryor, who's been sidelined since the second half of the New England game on Oct. 25 with an ankle sprain, was optimistic after today's practice about preparing for his own return to action.
"I was limited but I felt pretty good," Pryor said. "I'm pretty sure I'll do more until practice on Wednesday, I'll be a full participant and be ready to go."
Bowles, playing it down the middle, said he needed to see more than today's practice to green-light his second-year safety.
The coach was optimistic about CB Antonio Cromartie (quad) being able to resume starting at corner and perhaps even returning kickoffs again after Cro missed the first game of his 10-year NFL career due to injury against the Bills. Bowles: "He's doing a lot better than last week, he's moving around.
A new injury concern could be DE Sheldon Richardson's hamstring. "He's just sore," Bowles said, adding of his availability for Houston, 'It's too early to tell."
The Jets' first official injury report of the week will be out after Wednesday's practice.
