EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Ryan Fitzpatrick's night came to an early end against the Colts on Monday night.
The Jets benched their journeyman quarterback for the second half of New York's 41-10 loss. Trailing 24-3 heading into halftime and 31-3 shortly after, coach Todd Bowles decided it was time to make a change. Petty last appeared in a start against the Rams.
Fitzpatrick was 5 of 12 for 81 yards and a pick. Petty finished 11 of 25 for 135 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.
After the game, Bowles said he was planning to start Petty in each of the Jets' final four remaining games this season regardless of what happened Monday.
"Our plan was to start him the last four games, so he only started a half early anyway," Bowles said.
Bowles started Fitzpatrick in the first place to prove a point. The Jets were still distantly, mathematically eligible to make the playoffs heading into Monday night, and when that is a possibility, the team does not acquiesce the quarterback job to keep an eye on the future.
Petty, or second-round pick Christian Hackenberg, is most certainly the future. Save for a breathless pursuit of Tony Romo this offseason, the Jets will have to face their rookie quarterback conundrum head-on at some point. Their remaining games against the 49ers, Dolphins and Patriots will almost certainly be a forum to do so.
Petty went 19 of 32 for 163 yards, a touchdown and a pick in his only start earlier this season.
The Colts also pulled off a quarterback switch during the game, putting in Scott Tolzien for Andrew Luck with the team up leading comfortably in the fourth quarter.
