New York Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick has an opportunity to show the Houston Texans why they made a mistake trading him in March, but it won't come without excruciating pain. Fitzpatrick, nine days ago had surgery to repair a torn ligament in his non-throwing left thumb, and it seems to be worst than before.

The plan is for Fitzpatrick to start Sunday against the Texans, head coach Todd Bowles will evaluate him after Thursday's practice, when he gets to see him hand the ball off.

"It's more painful now than it was before the surgery," said Fitzpatrick, who will continue to use a protective glove like he did after suffering the injury Nov. 1 against the Oakland Raiders. "Part of that is they cut my hand open. "I don't think the pain will go away. But as the season will be going on, I will be getting better. So I have to wear my brace and all that so I don't see a whole lot of difference between what's happened the last few games [playing with the brace] and what will happen the rest of the season. .... It still has to heal, and it is going to take a lot of time. ... The surgery is not really a quick fix overnight."

The scary scenario for the Jets is, Fitzpatrick starting, and becomes unable to finish the game leaving a banged up Geno Smith finishing the game. I don't get how Geno Smith is even hurt. The guy doesn't get any time, and once he gets hit one time he's out for like weeks. It's time to get him out of town.

 

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