Bryce Petty

The Jets now have five quarterbacks with Darnold on the roster, and teams usually only carry four of them during the offseason. It isn't clear what sort of compensation New York could receive in return for the quarterback, but the asking price likely isn't very expensive.

Petty filled in for McCown late in Sunday's 23-0 loss to the Broncos, completing only two of nine passes for 14 yards. The 2015 fourth-round pick was impressive this preseason, but he failed to display anything approaching competence in 2016 when he completed 75 of 133 passes (56.4) for 6.1 yards per attempt, with three touchdowns and seven interceptions in six games (four starts). Robby Anderson and Jermaine Kearse need to be downgraded as the Jets prepare for a Week 15 road matchup against a Saints defense that ranks sixth in the NFL with 14 interceptions.

This was probably the best-case scenario for the injury Petty suffered during Saturday's preseason game against the Giants. He completed 15 of 18 passes for 250 yards and three touchdowns in the contest, making a strong case to serve as the No. 2 quarterback behind likely starter Josh McCown. Meanwhile, Christian Hackenberg tossed a pair of pick-sixes while completing 12 of 21 passes for 126 yards and a touchdown.

The Jets have not made the playoffs in six seasons, and after a 10-6 record in Bowles first season last year, the Jets went 5-11 this year. Owner Woody Johnson stated that the playoffs or bust route is not the way he wants to look at the franchise, but rather if his players are improving or not.