FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith will be sidelined at least six to 10 weeks with two fractures in his jaw, the result of a locker-room altercation Tuesday morning with reserve linebacker IK Enemkpali.
"It was nothing to do with football. ... It was very childish," coach Todd Bowles said. "He got cold-cocked ... sucker punched, whatever you want to call it, in the jaw. He's got a broken jaw, a fractured jaw."
Enemkpali, a sixth-round pick in 2014, was released immediately by the team.
"The team knows it. It's something we don't tolerate, something we can't stand," Bowles said. "You don't walk up to a man and punch him in the face."
Smith, who was the presumptive opening-day starter, will have surgery, according to Bowles.
A clearly annoyed Bowles said Enemkpali punched Smith over "very childish" matter.
"It was something very childish, something sixth-graders could've talked about," Bowles said. "It had no reason to happen. If they want to tell you what happened, they can tell you what happened. I told them I wouldn't say anything about it."
Asked if there were any festering issues between the two players, Bowles said, "Not to my knowledge. Obviously, it was a sudden thing."
This was not Enemkpali's first brush with off-field violence. At 19, he punched an off-duty cop who was working security during a bar fight while he was at college at Louisiana Tech. On that night Enemkpali had to be subdued first with pepper spray and then with a taser.
He was arrested and charged with battery on a police officer and disturbing the peace/drunk, according to court records. The charge was amended to simple battery and he received a suspended jail sentence and was placed on 13 months probation. He also was ordered to perform 32 hours of community service and to complete an anger management course.
Tuesday's altercation means veteran backup Ryan Fitzpatrick will start the season as the team's quarterback. Bowles indicated that may add another quarterback. The current No. 2 is Bryce Petty, a rookie who has been struggling in camp.
Jets quarterback Geno Smith was "sucker-punched" over "a very childish matter," according to coach Todd Bowles. Steve Mitchell/USA TODAY Sports
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