Jets Quarterback Mark Sanchez Likely Needs Surgery; Bengals Should Prep For Geno Smith

The drama surrounding the New York Jets never seems to end, does it? After allowing a free-for-all competition between Mark Sanchez and Geno Smith this offseason, the team settled on Smith after Sanchez suffered an untimely injury in the third preseason game. Initially, the shoulder injury seemed to be a week-to-week sort of issue with Sanchez while the team hoped to skate by with Smith.

According to multiple reports, Sanchez's injury appears significant enough to require surgery, per the famed Dr. James Andrews. The surgeon to the stars found a labral tear in Sanchez's throwing shoulder. If true, Sanchez will need it surgically repaired and would be out for the rest of the year, likely ending his tenure with the Jets and officially ushering in the Geno Smith era.

Sanchez isn't going down without a fight though, as he refuted the initial reports about the significance of his injury. He sent a text to ESPN Insider, Chris Mortensen that said: "If I needed surgery right now, I never would have left Andrews' office. I would've stayed and got the surgery". Like I said--neverending drama.

Regardless, when the Bengals play the Jets in Week Eight (Sunday, October 27th, 4:05PM EST), they should expect to face Smith. Given the news about Sanchez, the uncertainty surrounding it, as well as Smith guiding the Jets to a Week One win, it only makes sense. Cincinnati has had their ups and downs against rookie quarterbacks in the past and Smith is the mobile type to give them trouble.

Still, that's quite a few games in the future at this point and the team needs to get through the daunting first part of the schedule before they can worry about Gang Green.