New York Jets' Geno Smith in Surgery After Getting Punched in the Jaw by Teammate, Will Be Sidelined for 6-10 Weeks

Linebacker Ikemefuna Enemkpali has since been released from the team

By Alyssa Toomey Aug 11, 2015 6:16 PMTags
Geno Smith, New York JetsAl Pereira/Getty Images

UPDATE: Ikemefuna Enemkpali has apologized two days after the scuffle. 

New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith is going to be sidelined for six to 10 weeks after being punched in the jaw in the locker room by now former teammate Ikemefuna Enemkpali, head coach Todd Bowles announced at a press conference today

E! News has learned that the athlete, who was presumably going to be starting this season, is currently in surgery and is expected to make a speedy recovery. 

The Jets' offcial Twitter account confirmed that Enemkpali, a 24-year-old linebacker who was selected by the Jets in the sixth round of the 2014 NFL draft, has since been released from the team and the organization has signed cornerback Javier Arenas

Bowles addressed reporters before practice today and appeared stoic (and slightly annoyed) as he detailed the scuffle. 

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"You can't tolerate that," Bowles said. "When you have a team and a bunch of side issues you can't tolerate that. It's something that happened in the locker room and we're dealing with it internally and that's what we'll do."

Asked to share what the altercation was about, Bowles replied, "I'll let them tell you. It's something very childish that sixth-graders could have talked about and it had no reason to happen. If they want to tell you what happened they'll tell you what happened. I told them I wouldn't say anything about it so I'll keep it there."

Al Pereira/Getty Images for New York Jets

With regards to whether their fight had been "festering" for some time Bowles said, "Not to my knowledge. Obviously it was a sudden thing. I don't know what kind of history they have."

He added: "He [Geno] is down and he won't be playing this weekend." 

ILL BE BACK!

A photo posted by Geno Smith III (@genosmith7) on

Per reportsRyan Fitzpatrick is expected to take on the starting QB job while Smith is out. 

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